Eur. Phys. J. Plus (2020) 135: 596
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/s13360-020-00599-y

Regular Article

Synthesis, DFT calculations, and heat transfer performance large-surface TiO₂: ethylene glycol nanofluid and coolant applications

¹ Mathematics Department, Faculty of Science, New Valley University, 72511, Al-Kharga, Al-Wadi Al-Gadid, Egypt
² Mathematics Department, Faculty of Science, Northern Border University, 1321, Arar, Saudi Arabia
³ Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, New Valley University, 72511, Al-Kharga, Al-Wadi Al-Gadid, Egypt
⁴ Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Northern Border University, 1321, Arar, Saudi Arabia

^a m_r_eid@yahoo.com
^b ahmed73chem@scinv.au.edu.eg

Received: 25 February 2020
Accepted: 7 July 2020
Published online: 23 July 2020

Abstract

The titanium glycolate colloids nanoparticle [TiO₂-EG]^NP is synthesized at pH ≅ 7, using solgel polymerization mothed. The polymerization method is accomplished in ethylene glycol solution as a soft template at 298 K. The polymerization technique to the production of [TiO₂-EG]^NP. The resulting [TiO₂-EG]^NP are investigated by various methods involving FTIR and XRD. The thickness of fabricated [TiO₂-EG]^NP thin film is (75 ± 5 nm) by using spin coater (SPIN150) with a speed rate of 2000 rpm/30 s. Numerical calculations are accomplished to study the heat transfer features of dilute TiO₂-EG nanofluid under diverse NP volume fraction and temperature values. An enhancement of 8.7% in thermal conductivity was observed with 0.2 vol% TiO₂-EG nanofluid. The overall heat transfer rate is observed which improves with increasing NP volume concentration and temperature. The experimental results, DFT, and numerical calculations are noticed reasonably consistently. The coolant surface heat transfer rate has been increased by approximately 24% by 2% TiO₂-EG nanofluid at the same temperature level, which could be attributable to enhanced thermal conductivity and improved free convection due to a reduction in viscosity. Our results show that the nanofluid TiO₂-EG provides liquid coolants but is also more heat-specific and therefore suitable for energy management.