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Nanoparticles and Nanofluids for Energy Applications 2023

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "D1: Advanced Energy Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2024) | Viewed by 3501

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
REQUIMTE, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
Interests: nanomaterials for nanotechnology; energetic and environmental applications
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Energy consumption worldwide is constantly growing, and with it, there is a pressing need to develop new materials that can tackle this demand in a sustainable way. In the building sector, it is of the utmost importance that energy consumption can be counterbalanced with the generation of renewable energy, in situ. We live in a technological world, and in this reality, nanotechnology has a major role. Indeed, the number of nanoparticle/nanodevice applications is ever-growing. The use of nanotechnology in the development of new and alternative methods for pharmaceutical, medicinal, optical engineering, biosensing, and energy applications, among others, has boosted research on new nanoparticles and nanofluids. In the energy area, nanoparticles can be found in, e.g., storage units, luminescent solar concentrators, smart windows, and heat transfer mechanisms. All of these can provide high input in society and in the construction of a sustainable energy future. Nanofluids, for example, have a largely superior performance when compared to the currently employed heat transfer liquids; as such, they are greatly promising for applications in thermal management in sectors ranging from space exploration, automotive industry, and energy storage, to medicine, including cancer therapy. Another interesting application of nanoparticles is in luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs). These devices can potentially transform a building façade into an electricity power generator. As researchers, the possibility of creating a green, sustainable, future for generations to come is in our hands.

Dr. Helena M. R. Gonçalves
Dr. Marita A. Cardoso
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • nanoparticles
  • nanofluids
  • luminescent solar concentrators
  • plasmonics
  • smart window devices
  • storage energy devices
  • heat transfer
  • sustainability
 

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

37 pages, 7263 KiB  
Article
Hot Bridge-Wire Ignition of Nanocomposite Aluminum Thermite Synthesized Using Sol-Gel-Derived Aerogel with Tailored Properties for Enhanced Reactivity and Reduced Sensitivity
by Ilyes Ghedjatti, Shiwei Yuan and Haixing Wang
Energies 2024, 17(10), 2437; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17102437 - 20 May 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1405
Abstract
The development of nano-energetic materials has significantly advanced, leading to enhanced properties and novel applications in areas such as aerospace, defense, energy storage, and automobile. This research aims to engineer multi-dimensional nano-energetic material systems with precise control over energy release rates, spatial distribution, [...] Read more.
The development of nano-energetic materials has significantly advanced, leading to enhanced properties and novel applications in areas such as aerospace, defense, energy storage, and automobile. This research aims to engineer multi-dimensional nano-energetic material systems with precise control over energy release rates, spatial distribution, and temporal and pressure history. In this context, sol–gel processing has been explored for the manufacture of nanocomposite aluminum thermites using aerogels. The goal is to produce nano-thermites (Al/Fe2O3) with fast energy release rates that are insensitive to unintended initiation while demonstrating the potential of sol–gel-derived aerogels in terms of versatility, tailored properties, and compatibility. The findings provide insightful conclusions on the influence of factors such as secondary oxidizers (KClO3) and dispersants (n-hexane and acetone) on the reaction kinetics and the sensitivity, playing crucial roles in determining reactivity and combustion performance. In tandem, ignition systems contribute significantly in terms of a high degree of reliability and speed. However, the advantages of using nano-thermites combined with hot bridge-wire systems in terms of ignition and combustion efficiency for potential, practical applications are not well-documented in the literature. Thus, this research also highlights the practicality along with safety and simplicity of use, making nano-Al/Fe2O3-KClO3 in combination with hot bridge-wire ignition a suitable choice for experimental purposes and beyond. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoparticles and Nanofluids for Energy Applications 2023)
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16 pages, 2381 KiB  
Article
Effect of Drying Control Agent on Physicochemical and Thermal Properties of Silica Aerogel Derived via Ambient Pressure Drying Process
by Natalia Pawlik, Barbara Szpikowska-Sroka, Artur Miros, Bronisław Psiuk and Agnieszka Ślosarczyk
Energies 2023, 16(17), 6244; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16176244 - 28 Aug 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1398
Abstract
This paper presents the effect of drying control agents on the physicochemical and thermal properties of hydrophobic silica aerogels derived via the ambient pressure drying (APD) method by a surface silylation using a TMCS/n-hexane mixture. The structural and physicochemical properties of synthesized DMF-modified [...] Read more.
This paper presents the effect of drying control agents on the physicochemical and thermal properties of hydrophobic silica aerogels derived via the ambient pressure drying (APD) method by a surface silylation using a TMCS/n-hexane mixture. The structural and physicochemical properties of synthesized DMF-modified and unmodified hydrophobic silica aerogels were characterized using Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis, thermo-gravimetric analysis, FT-IR, and Raman spectroscopic techniques. Based on the obtained results, the differences in structure between samples before and after a surface silylation and the effect of drying control agents were documented. The structural measurements confirmed the efficient silylation process (TMCS/n-hexane), as well as the presence of DMF residues of hydrogen bonded with unreacted Si-OH silanol groups within the silica backbone after surface modification. Based on TG analysis, it was found that DMF addition improves thermal resistance (up to 320 °C) and hydrophobic character of prepared aerogel. Modification of the silica aerogel synthesis process by DMF also resulted in a significant increase in BET—the specific surface area, for the unmodified aerogel was ~828 m2/g, and for the DMF-modified aerogel more than 1200 m2/g—much higher than the value of silica aerogels available on the market. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoparticles and Nanofluids for Energy Applications 2023)
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