Investigations of thermoelectric properties in polymer-based hybrid nanofluids with various surfactants

This study employed a two-step synthesis method to investigate and evaluate the thermoelectric properties of TiO₂/CuO hybrid nanofluids, incorporating four different surfactants across various temperatures. Nanofluids stabilized with Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Cetyltrimethylammonium Bromide (CTAB) exhibited robust stability, favorable zeta potential, and particle sizes below 220 nm and 260 nm respectively, whereas the nanofluid with Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) showed the lowest stability and the largest particle size, exceeding 500 nm. Viscosity increased with torque due to nanoparticle sedimentation and shear thickening effects, while it decreased with rising temperature. This research provides valuable insights into enhancing hybrid nanofluids and thermoelectric devices. The findings indicated that CTAB and SLS surfactants exhibit superior thermal conductivity, exceeding 2 W/(m·K), compared to QF-DTk (1-Methoxy-2-Hydroxypropane, 2-Methoxy-1-Methylethanol, Polyvinyl Alcohol, PVA) and PVP surfactants. However, further research is necessary to pinpoint the exact factors contributing to these differences.