Synthesis and characterization of Al2O3 and CuO nanoparticles into nanofluids for solar panel applications

Nanofluids are the new class of fluids with the suspension of nanomaterials which have the average particle size below 100 nm. The nanometer-sized materials are nanoparticles, nanofibers, nanotubes, nanowires, nanorods, nanosheet or droplets. In this research work, oxide ceramics of CuO and Al2O3 are synthesized successfully by two-step combustion route while using glycine as an organic fuel followed by heat treatment. The obtained nanoparticles are characterized by powder X-ray diffractometer. It confirms the formation of CuO and Al2O3 with the phase pure of monoclinic and rhombohedral respectively. Morphological studies carried out by Scanning electron microscopy which shows spherical shape nanoparticles of CuO and leaf-shaped Al2O3 in particles with submicron range. The importance in the choice of coolant materials with base fluids for solar panel applications is briefly discussed by plotting I-V and P-V spectrum. As a result, the cooling efficiency of both CuO and Al(2)O(3 )are found as 18.2%, which is higher than the conventional one. The obtained efficiency value has been also compared with the reported data. This shows that CuO and Al2O3 will be a promising candidate with a base fluid of water for solar panel applications.