Optical sensitivity of mono and hybrid nanomaterials dispersed PEG-based semiconducting nanofluids with high viscosity and dielectric permittivity

ABSTRACT

Semiconducting nanofluids (SNFs), based on poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG200) fluid with the dispersion of 0.01 wt% mono (ZnO, TiO₂, and OMMT) and 0.01+ 0.01 wt% hybrid (ZnO+OMMT, ZnO+TiO₂, and TiO₂+OMMT) nanomaterials, are prepared through mixing and then ultrasonic cavitation homogenised process. Ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) absorbance spectra of these SNFs are recorded in the 200–800 nm range and analysed for their photosensitivity and UV shielding performance and also for nanomaterials tunable dual band gaps ranging from 3 to 5 eV. The rheological investigations on these samples, at 303.15 K, validate Newtonian nanofluids of high dynamic viscosity (η ≈ 32 mP.s). Static dielectric permittivity (ε_s ≈ 22) and electrical conductivity (σ_dc ≈ 8 μS/cm) of these SNFs at 303.15 K are found marginally affected by the dispersed mono and hybrid nanomaterials. Comparative experimental results presented here in on a variety of SNFs provide a guideline for their uses in developing soft condensed matter based innovative devices.

KEYWORDS:

• Poly(ethylene glycol)
• semiconducting nanomaterials
• hybrid nanofluids
• optical properties
• dielectric permittivity
• dynamic viscosity

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).