Direct synthesis of nanofluids containing novel hexagonal disc shaped copper nanoparticles

Abstract

Copper nanofluids have been prepared by single step solution phase reduction of copper sulphate by ascorbic acid in the presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone. The synthesized hexagonal disc shaped nanostructures of copper are novel and were characterized by diffraction techniques, microscopic techniques and spectroscopic analysis. Thermal conductivity and rheological measurements were also carried out. Sedimentation measurements showed that the nanofluid was stable up to a period of 3 weeks. The copper nanofluid exhibited Newtonian behavior and enhanced thermal conductivity. The nanofluid showed thermal conductivity of 0.827 Wm?1K?1when the weight fraction of copper nanoparticles was as low as 0.096% owing to higher conductivity of copper, its nano size and uniform distribution of the particles in the fluid. The method is found to be facile, expeditious, economic and reliable technique for synthesis of nanofluids. © 2017 by American Scientific Publishers All rights reserved.