Beyond the Maxwell Limit: Thermal Conduction in Nanofluids with Percolating Fluid Structures

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that nanofluids with strong cluster-fluid attraction can form percolating structures that significantly enhance thermal conductivity beyond traditional limits, supported by molecular dynamics simulations.

Contribution

It introduces a new mechanism for thermal conductivity enhancement in nanofluids via percolating amorphous-like structures, extending beyond the Maxwell limit.

Findings

Thermal conductivity exceeds the Maxwell limit of 3*phi.

Percolating amorphous structures facilitate heat transfer.

Simulation results are experimentally verifiable.

Abstract

In a well-dispersed nanofluid with strong cluster-fluid attraction, thermal conduction paths can arise through percolating amorphous-like interfacial structures. This results in a thermal conductivity enhancement beyond the Maxwell limit of 3*phi, with phi being the nanoparticle volume fraction. Our findings from non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations, which are amenable to experimental verification, can provide a theoretical basis for the development of future nanofluids.