ABSTRACT
Nanoparticle fluid suspensions were prepared using photochemically functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes in polar base fluids. Multiwalled carbon nanotubes prepared by catalytic chemical vapour deposition technique have been functionalized by irradiating with ultraviolet light of wavelength 254 nm. The photochemical oxidation of multiwalled carbon nanotubes under UV irradiation introduces oxygen containing functional groups onto the surface of the nanotubes, generating new defects on their structure. Silver nanoparticles have been deposited over multiwalled carbon nanotubes by chemical method. The enhancement in thermal conductivity of the prepared nanofluids using functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes and Ag nanoparticles deposited functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes with volume fraction, temperature and aspect ratio has been demonstrated. Silver deposited functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes based nanofluids in DI water with 0.02% volume fraction exhibit a thermal conductivity enhancement of 9.9% and 47% at room temperature and at 50 degrees C respectively.
ABSTRACT
Chemical and electrical synergies between graphite oxide and multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWNT) for processing graphene wrapped-MWNT hybrids has been realized by chemical vapor deposition without any chemical functionalization. Potential of the hybrid composites have been demonstrated by employing them as electrocatalyst supports in proton exchange membrane fuel cells. The defects present in the polyelectrolyte, which have been wrapped over highly dispersed MWNT, act as anchoring sites for the homogeneous deposition of platinum nanoparticles. Single-cell proton exchange membrane fuel cells show that the power density of the hybrid composite-based fuel cells is higher compared to the pure catalyst-support-based fuel cells, because of enhanced electrochemical reactivity and good surface area of the nanocomposites.
