Computational fluid dynamics simulation of heat transfer from densely packed gold nanoparticles to isotropic media

This work aims to determine and compare heat generation and propagation of densely packed gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) induced by a resonant laser beam (532 nm) according to the Mie theory. The heat flux propagation is transferred into the materials, which here are: silica glass; soda-lime-silica glass; borosilicate glass; polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA); polycarbonate (PC); and polydimetylosiloxane (PDMS). This analysis aims to select the optimum material serving as a base for using photo-thermoablation. On the other hand, research focused only on Newtonian heat transfer in gold, not on non-Fourier ones, like the Cattaneo approach. As a simulation tool, a computational fluid dynamics code with the second-order upwind algorithm is selected. Results reveal a near-Gaussian and Gaussian temperature distribution profile during the heating and cooling processes, respectively. Dependence between the maximum temperature after irradiation and the glass thermal conductivity is observed confirming the Fourier law. Due to the maximum heating area, the borosilicate or soda-lime glass, which serves as a base, shall represent an excellent candidate for future experiments.