A review on nanofluids: Preparation methods and applications

Abstract

Research in heat transfer using suspensions of nanometer-sized solid particles in liquids as the base fluids have started in the last two decades. The nanofluid is a colloidal mixture composed of a base fluid and nanoparticles. The nanoparticles may be metallic, nonmetallic, ceramic, oxide and of several other categories, being the nanocomposites one of the areas of greater growth in the engineering of materials. Nanofluids are part of a new generation of high potential fluids in heat transfer applications due to their higher thermal conductivity. Most recent studies on nanofluids indicate that suspended nanoparticles markedly alter the properties and heat transfer characteristics of the suspension. This article summarizes some of the recent advances in the study of nanofluids and nanoparticles, such as their preparation methods, their thermophysical properties and finally presents various fields of applications such as solar thermal, mechanical, automotive, electronic, medical, biomedical etc.