Unexpected sharp peak in thermal conductivity of carbon nanotubes water-based nanofluids

We report here the thermal conductivity measurement of carbon nanotubes water-based nanofluids stabilized by sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate as a function of volume fraction and temperature. For the first time, we further show the existence of a sharp peak in thermal conductivity at very small volume fraction below theoretical percolation threshold which is temperature independent. This preliminary study evidences the potential of promising and useful nanofluid for practical applications in cooling and energy systems and heat exchangers, as viscosity penalty is obviously vanished at this concentration. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.