An experimental study on thermal characteristics of nanofluid with graphene and multi-wall carbon nanotubes

High-thermal conductivity enhancement of nanofluid is one of the promising topics of the nanoscience research field. This work reports the experimental study on the preparation of graphene (GN) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) based nanofluids with the assistance of sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) surfactants, and their thermal behaviors. The present work suggests not a solution, but a solution approach and deduces a new conclusion by trying to resolve the agglomeration problem and improve the dispersibility of nanoparticles in the base fluid. The analysis results of FESEM, thermal conductivity, diffusivity, effusivity and heat transfer coefficient enhancement ratio of nanofluid with surfactants SDS and SDBS expose strong evidence of the dispersing effect of surfactant on the making of nanofluid.