ABSTRACT

High rates of heat transfer in mechanical, chemical, and biomedical microsystems require heat exchangers which are very small, light, and efficient. Microchannels made out of glass, silicon, or polymers form the basic elements of such microsystems. Improving the thermal performance of compact devices requires better coolants than conventional fluids such as oil, water, or ethylene glycol. One solution to microscale cooling problems is the addition of solid nanoparticles to the fluid. The resulting nanofluids, that is, dilute suspensions of nanoparticles in liquids, may significantly change the mixture’s properties, most notably its thermal conductivity and viscosity.