Ionic liquid-based nanofluids (ionanofluids) for thermal applications: an experimental thermophysical characterization

Heat transfer fluids materials are manufactured for the purpose of transfer, distribution and storage of heat. Several of their important properties can be listed (for example flash point, thermal expansivity or technical safety). However, to assess the thermal exchange performance of these fluids, a prior knowledge of their heat capacity, density, viscosity and thermal conductivity is obligatory. The most popular heat transfer fluids are based on organic liquids, such as ethylene glycol. However, new technologies and development require more efficient materials. Ionanofluids, mixtures of ionic liquids and nanoparticles, were proposed as a viable replacement for those commonly used fluids due to the properties of ionic liquids (wide liquid range or low vapour pressure and flammability) combined with enhanced thermophysical properties of nanofluids caused by the dispersion of nanoparticles (mainly thermal conductivity and heat capacity). Very few authors reported the extensive analysis of those systems thermophysical properties and impact on the heat exchange efficiency. Moreover, the availability of published data is very limited. The aim of this work is to investigate ionanofluids based on the trihexyl(tetradecyl) phosphonium cation paired with the acetate, butanoate, hexanoate, octanoate or decanoate anion, mixed with carbon nanotubes, boron nitride, graphite or mesoporous carbon as nanoparticles with concentration up to 3 wt %. The density, heat capacity, thermal stability, thermal conductivity and viscosity of selected ionanofluids were determined experimentally as functions of the temperature (up to 363.15 K) and compared with theoretical tools to evaluate the predictive capability. Based on the experimental results, lubrication, heat storage potential and economic analysis were also discussed and compared to commercial heat transfer fluids.