MXene based new class of silicone oil nanofluids for the performance improvement of concentrated photovoltaic thermal collector

In this research work, MXene with a chemical formula of Ti3C2 is used for the first time with silicone oil to improve thermo-physical properties of MXene based silicone oil. This paper focuses on preparation, characterization, thermal properties, thermal stability and performance investigation of new class of silicone oil nanofluids induced with MXene in three different concentrations for a Concentrated Solar Photovoltaic Thermal (CPVT) collector. The thermal conductivity of the silicone oil-based MXene nanofluids is measured using a Transient Hot Bridge (THB) 500. Viscosity is measured using a Rheometer at various temperatures including 25, 50, 75, 100, and 125 °C. PerkinElmer Lambda 750 is used to measure optical absorbance. The highest thermal conductivity enhancement is found to be 64% for 0.1 wt% concentration of silicone oil-MXene nanofluid compared to pure silicone oil at 150 °C. The viscosity of MXene with silicone oil nanofluids is found to be independent of addition of MXene nanoparticles in the silicone oil base fluid. Viscosity is reduced by 37% when temperature is raised from 25 °C to 50 °C for different concentrations of MXene with silicone oil. Silicone oil-based MXene nanofluid with 0.1 wt% concentration is thermally stable up to ~380 °C. Introducing more MXene nanoparticles into silicone oil improves electrical efficiency of PV module due to better cooling of MXene based nanofluids. Higher solar concentration is resulted in higher average temperature of the PV module. This consequently raises thermal energy gain which is useful for different applications.