Experimental investigation on thermal conductivity of nanofluids containing graphene oxide nanosheets

Nanofluids containing graphene oxide nanosheets have substantially higher thermal conductivities than the base fluids. The thermal conductivity enhancement ratios with the loading 5.0 vol % are up to 30.2%, 62.3%, and 76.8%, when the base fluids are distilled water, propyl glycol and liquid paraffin, respectively. The enhancement ratios of the nanofluids are almost constant with the tested temperature varying, and they are reduced with the increasing thermal conductivity of the base fluids. Heat transport along the graphene oxide plane is proposed to be the major contributions to the increase in the thermal conductivity. (c) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3372733]