One-Pot and One-Step Synthesis of Copper and Copper/Copper Oxide Hybrid Nano-Fluids

Copper or copper/copper oxide nanofluids were synthesized by using a one-step and one-pot process. The two suspensions used are copper (II) hydroxide [Cu(OH)₂] and copper (II) acetate [Cu(OAc)₂] in diethylene glycol/water (∼ 50/50 wt%) base fluid. These suspensions were reduced by a hydrazine diethylene glycol solution. Two methods, microwave heating and naturally aging, were used to stabilize the fluids. The effects of the copper salts, N₂H₄, and microwave heating on the properties of the nanofluids were analyzed through measurements of visible absorption spectra, pH values, electrical conductivity, and thermal conductivity. The particle sizes in the prepared nanofluids were found in nanoscale. Problems occurred with using Cu(OH)₂ the most noticeably of which was an incomplete reduction of the Copper (II) ion. However, this provided a new way to synthesize copper/copper oxide hybrid nanofluids. A more efficient and reliable copper nanofluid was made using Cu(OAC)₂, which better performance at low copper content in comparison to the nanofluids made from Cu(OH)₂.