Diffusion of Nanoparticles in Gases and Liquids

Abstract

Nanofluids are two-phase systems consisting of a carrier medium (gas or liquid) and nanoparticles. Due to very small sizes and large specific surface areas of the nanoparticles, nanofluids have superior properties therefore they have applies successfully in different technologies including MEMS-and nanotechnol-ogies. One of the nanofluids theory key problems is the nanoparticles diffusion in liquids and gases. The object of this review is the systematic description of the features of the nanoparticle diffusion in gases and liquids. In particular, it is discussed: (i) The diffusion and thermal diffusion of nanoparticles in rarefied gases; (ii) The kinetic theory of nanoparticles diffusion in gases; (iii) Diffusion of nanoparticles in dense gases and liquids; and (iv) Mechanisms of the nanoparticle velocity relaxation in gases and liquids. It was shown that in general case the diffusion of nanoparticles in fluids is differed from diffusion of molecules and Brownian particles.