Objectives and Stages

The main objective of this project is the use of a high accuracy photothermal calorimetry in order to study the static and dynamic thermal properties of the magnetic nanofluids and their changes as a function of the relevant parameters of the nanofluid (carrier liquid, type of surfactant, type, size and concentration of nanoparticles). The research is focussed on water-based nanofluids with Fe3O4, γ-Fe2O3 and CoFe2O4 type of nanoparticles, covered with polymer as stabilizer.

Specific objectives:

1. Increase of the performances of the photopyroelectric calorimetry up to an accuracy of and reproducibility of 95-96% (±2% error). This objective will be reached by: (i) selection of most suitable PPE detection configurations; (ii) the information will be collected from the phase of the PPE signal (and not amplitude as usual); (iii)adaptation and optimization of the setups and detection cells for magnetic nanofluids; (iv) design of a cell allowing for a control of sample’s thickness variation with 30 nm step, for high accuracy thermal diffusivity measurements; (v)optimization of the software for data acquisition and processing;

2. PPE study of the behaviour of the static and dynamic thermal parameters of the investigated magnetic nanofluids: as a function of carrier fluid, type, concentration and size of nanoparticles and type of surfactant; detection of the phase transitions, if existing.3. Background objectives: An important background objective is samples’ preparation. For biomedical applications the use of particles that present superparamagnetic behaviour at room temperature is preferred. Iron oxide particles such as magnetite (Fe3O4) or its oxidized form maghemite (g-Fe2O3) are by far the most commonly employed for biomedical applications. The synthesis of magnetic fluids wil be performed in collaboration with the Laboratory of Magnetic Fluids, Romanian Academy – Timisoara Branch. Another background objective is connected with the final sensitivity of the investigations: if the sensitivity of the measurements will reach the expected performances, we intend to propose the procedure for standard purposes.

Year *	Name of the obiective		Associated activities
2011		General Objective: Math. model and preliminary experiments
2011	1	Draw up of the general math. model and selection of the particular detection configurations for the measurement of thermal parameters of fluids.	1. Draw up of the theoretical equations for the PPE signal in the front and back configurations.
			2. Selection of the particular detection cases.
			3. Study of the correlation of theoretical equations and experimental facilities.
	2	Synthesis/acquisition of magnetic nanofluids with different structural parameters.	1. Identification/synthesis/acquisition of magnetic nanofluids with structural parameters of practical interest from thermal point of view.
2012		Gen. Objective: PPE calorimetry for thermal diffusivity investigation of mg. nanofluids.
2012	1	Selection of the detection configuration, draw up of the theoretical equations and setup of experimental parameters for the measurement of the thermal diffusivity.	1. Draw up of the theoretical equation for the PPE signal in the back configuration and selection of the detection case in which the phase of the PPE signal depends in a simple way on the thermal diffusivity.
			2. Correlation of theory with the experimental possibilities offered by a thickness scan.
			3. Draw up of fitting programs.
	2	Increase of the performances of the PPE calorimetry for thermal diffusivity investigations.	1.Upgrade of the calorimetric setup.
			2. Set up of a PPE detection cell allowing a sample’s thickness scan of 30 nm step accuracy.
			3. Software for data acquisition and processing.
			4. New fitting procedure for data analysis.
			5. Preliminary experiments on known fluids.
	3	Synthesis/acquisition of magnetic nanofluids with different values of structural parameters.	1. Synthesis of magnetic nanofluids with different carrier liquid, surfactant, type, size and conc. of nanoparticles for preliminary experiments.
	4	Dissemination of the results	1. Results presented at national and international seminars and conferences (min. 2 communications).
			2. Results published in ISI journals (min 2 papers).
			3. Update web page.
	5	Mobilities	1. Working stages with res. groups active in the field 2. Participation to int. conf., (WWTW, ALT-2012)
2013		Gen. Objective: PPE calorimetry for thermal effusivity investigation of mg. nanofluids.
2013	1	Selection of the detection configuration, draw up of the theoretical equations and setup of experimental parameters for the measurement of the thermal effusivity.	1. Draw up of the theoretical equation for the PPE signal in front configuration; selection of the detection case in which the phase of the PPE signal depends in a simple way on the thermal effusivity.
			2. Correlation of theoretical equations with the exp. possibilities offered by a frequency scan.
			3. Draw up of fitting programs.
	2	Increase of the performances of the PPE calorimetry for thermal effusivity investigations.	1.Upgrade of the calorimetric setup for nanofluids
			2. Software for data acquisition and processing.
			3. New fitting procedure for data analysis.
			4. Preliminary experiments on known fluids.
	3	Synthesis and characterization by complemantary methods of magnetic nanofluids with different structural parameters	1. Synthesis of magnetic nanofluids with different, controlled, structural parameters.
	3		2. Investigation of the morphology of the structures and the nanoparticles’ dimensional distribution.
	4	Dissemination of the results	1. Results presented at national and international seminars and conferences (min. 2 communications).
			2. Results published in ISI journals (min 2 papers).
			3. Update web page.
	5	Mobilities	1. Working stages. 2. Participation at int. conf. (ICPPP, WWTW, ALT)
2014		General Objective: PPE study of thermal properties of magnetic nanofluids.
2014	1	Behaviour of the static and dynamic thermal parameters of magnetic nanofluids as a function of carrier liquid, surfactant, type, size and conc. of nanoparticles.	1. PPE measurements of thermal diffusivity and effusivity of magnetic nanofluids.
	1		2. Data analysis, correlation with physico-chemical processes.
	2	Temperature dependence of the thermal parameters and detection of phase transitions.	1. PPE measurements of phase transitions – data analysis.
	3	Complementary methods for mg. nanofluid characterization.	1. Complementary measurementss for magnetic nanofluid characterization (SEM, TEM, DSC).
	3	Complementary methods for mg. nanofluid characterization.	2. Correlation with PPE investigations.
	4	Dissemination of the results	1. Results presented at national and international seminars and conferences (min. 2 communications).
			2. Results published in ISI journals (min 2 papers).
			3. Update web page.
	5	Mobilities	1. Working stages. 2. Participation at int. conf. (WWTW, ALT)