The Role of Percolation and Sheet Dynamics during Heat Conduction in poly-dispersed Graphene Nanofluids

TL;DR

This paper proposes a new model for heat conduction in poly-dispersed graphene nanofluids, emphasizing the roles of sheet percolation and Brownian motion, and aligns well with experimental data.

Contribution

It introduces a novel heat conduction model based on sheet size, percolation, and phonon transport, enhancing understanding of thermal conductivity in graphene nanofluids.

Findings

Model agrees with experimental data

Sheet size influences heat conduction mechanisms

Percolation and Brownian motion are key factors

Abstract

A thermal transport mechanism leading to the enhanced thermal conductivity of Graphene nanofluids has been proposed. The Graphene sheet size is postulated to be the key to the underlying mechanism. Based on a critical sheet size derived from Stokes-Einstein equation for the poly-dispersed nanofluid, sheet percolation and Brownian motion assisted sheet collisions are used to explain the heat conduction. A collision dependant dynamic conductivity considering Debye approximated volumetric specific heat due to phonon transport in Graphene has been incorporated. The model has been found to be in good agreement with experimental data.