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Plasmonic Nanofluids: Enhancing Photothermal Gradients toward Liquid Robots.
Matteo Bevione1,2, Alessandro Chiolerio3, Giulia Tagliabue2
1Empa─Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Ueberlandstrasse 129, 8600 Duebendorf, Switzerland.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|October 19, 2023
Summary
Oil-based plasmonic nanofluids offer a novel solution for energy harvesting in flexible devices. These advanced nanofluids achieve high photothermal efficiency and significant thermal gradients, enabling efficient energy generation.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Energy Harvesting
Background:
- Developing energy sources for soft, autonomous devices requires stretchable and fault-resistant components.
- Liquid-based energy harvesters using nanofluids (pyroelectric, triboelectric, thermoelectric) show promise but need large thermal gradients.
- Current systems face limitations in achieving efficient thermal gradients for practical applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate oil-based plasmonic nanofluids for efficient in situ energy generation.
- To demonstrate the potential of these nanofluids in creating large thermal gradients for energy harvesting.
- To explore the photothermal behavior and optimize performance based on concentration and wavelength.
Main Methods:
- Formulation of oleic acid-based nanofluids with titanium nitride (TiN) nanoclusters.
- Experimental measurement of photothermal efficiency and thermal gradients under solar irradiation.
- Numerical investigation of photothermal behavior varying solid fraction and irradiation wavelength.
Main Results:
- Achieved 89% photothermal efficiency with 0.3 wt% TiN nanocluster nanofluids.
- Demonstrated thermal gradients as high as 15.5 K/cm under solar irradiation.
- Showcased significantly improved performance compared to water-based nanofluids.
Conclusions:
- Oil-based plasmonic nanofluids uniquely combine high photothermal efficiency and heat localization.
- These findings present a breakthrough for liquid-based energy generation in soft, stand-alone devices.
- Opens new avenues for developing advanced energy harvesting systems for flexible electronics.
