GRAPHENE OXIDE NANOFLUIDS CHARACTERIZATION AND ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY

Recently Graphene Oxide (GO) Nanofluids has become one of the emerging topics discussed in engineering applications due to its favourable characteristics in thermal and electrical conductivity. The substance is a combination of nanosize particles of graphene oxide dispersed in a base fluid, commonly distilled water. Two-step preparation method was used to prepare the nanofluids in this experiment. Graphene oxide nanoparticles was created by using simplified Hummer's method. Oxidized from graphite, the material is proven to have ability to conduct electricity and heat. To determine the characteristics of the graphene oxide nanosheets, FTIR and XRD test was carried out on the sample. The corresponding results showed that the graphite was fully reduced and oxidized to graphene oxide. To monitor the stability of the samples photo capturing technique was utilized. It was concluded that with a pH around 7.8 and ultrasonic time of 70 min produce samples that are stable for at least a month. In terms of electrical conductivity enhancement it was shown that samples with 0.03% volume fraction of graphene oxide had the highest electrical conductivity with a value of 161.44 mu S/cm. The ability of the colloidal suspension to conduct electricity is basically due to the formation of dielectric layer and the presence of surface charges around the nanoparticles. In terms of electrical conductivity enhancement of the base fluid, sample with volume faction of 0.03% produces an enhancement value of 106%. The samples did not show any significant enhancement when the temperature is manipulated.