Application of nanomaterials: Overview and historical perspectives

Abstract

Nanotechnology in the last few years has gained important and critical recognition in different fields and applications. Nano-fluids are fluids containing suspension of nanometer-sized particles. Their importance arose due to the need to enhance thermal performance of energy and thermal systems with noninvasive techniques. Nano-fluids have superior thermal properties over the base fluids such as water, mineral oil, vegetable oil, thermal oil, and synthetic oil. This feature makes them very attractive as heat transfer fluids in many applications and manufacturing processes. Nano-fluids have been recognized as nanoparticle of suspensions (1-100 nm) in a base fluid. Nano-fluids have other applications in biotechnology applications for drug delivery and advanced sensors technology. Nanoparticles are prepared from metal oxides, metals, or carbon in different forms. This chapter is intended to focus on the nanoparticle’s characteristics, behavior in applications such as momentum and mass, enhanced energy, and heat transfer, and, enhancement of solar energy applications. Other applications involving nanomaterials were also presented and discussed.