The Cu nanofluid in ethylene glycol was prepared by electrical explosion of wire, a novel one-step method. The X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope were used to study the properties of Cu nanoparticles. The results showed that the nanoparticles were consisted of pure face-centered cubic structure and near spherical shape with average grain size of 65 nm. Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis) confirmed Cu nanoparticles with a single absorbance peak of Cu surface plasmon resonance band at 600 nm. The nanofluid was found to be stable due to high positive zeta potential value, +51 mV. The backscattering level of nanofluid in static stationary was decreased about 2% for 5 days. The thermal conductivity measurement showed that Cu-ethylene glycol nanofluid with low concentration of nanoparticles had higher thermal conductivity than based fluid. The enhancement of thermal conductivity of nanofluid at a volume fraction of 0.1% was approximately 5.2%.

In the present work, water-based gold nanofluids were synthesized by the solution plasma processing (SPP). The size distribution and the shape of gold nanoparticles in the nanofluids were investigated using high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). The dispersion stability of gold nanofluids was characterized using zeta potential, as well. The thermal properties of gold nanofluids were measured by utilizing lambda measurement device. Nanofluids containing nanoparticles with in diameter were successfully synthesized. As diameter of nanoparticles decreased, dispersion stability of nanofluids increased and the enhanced ratio of thermal conductivity increased. The nanofluid with nanoparticles of in diameter showed approximately 3% improvement in thermal conductivity measurement and this could be due to the enhanced Brownian movement.

Ethylene glycol-based Cu nanofluids were prepared by pulsed wire evaporation (PWE) method. The structural properties of Cu nanoparticles were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The average diameter and Brunauer Emmett Teller (BET) surface area of Cu nanoparticles were about 100 nm and , respectively. The thermal conductivity and viscosity of copper nanofluid were measured as functions of Cu concentration and temperature. As the volume fraction of Cu nanoparticles increased, both the enhanced ratios of thermal conductivity and viscosity of Cu nanofluids increased. As the temperature increased, the enhanced ratio of thermal conductivity increased, but that ratio of viscosity decreased.

The silver nanofluids were synthesized by the pulsed wire evaporation (PWE) method in a liquid-gas mixture. The size and microstructure of nanoparticles in the deionized water were investigated by a particle size analyzer (PSA), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Also, the synthesized nanofluids were investigated in order to assess the stability of dispersion of nanofluid by the zetapotential analyzer and dispersion stability analyzer. The results showed that the spherical silver nanoparticle formed in the deionized water and mean particle size was about 50 nm. Also, when explosion times were in the range of 20~200 times, the absolute value of zeta potential was less than -27 mV and the dispersion stability characteristic of low concentration silver nanofluid was better than the high concentration silver nanofluid by turbiscan.

Lubricant-based nanofluids were prepared by dispersing carbon nanoparticles in gear oil. In this study, the effects of the particle size, shape and dispersity of the particles on the tribological properties of nanofluids were investigated. Dispersion experiments were conducted with a high-speed bead mill and an ultrasonic homogenizer, and the surfaces of the nanoparticles were simultaneously modified with several dispersants. The effective thermal conductivity of the nanofluids was measured by the transient hot-wire method, and the tribological behaviors of the nanofluids were also investigated with a disk-on-disk tribo-tester. The results of this study clearly showed that the combination of the nanoparticles, the deagglomeration process, the dispersant and the dispersion solvent is very important for the dispersity and tribological properties of nanofluids. Lubricant-based nanofluids showed relatively low thermal conductivity enhancement, but they were highly effective in decreasing the frictional heat that was generated. For nanofluids containing 0.1vol.% graphite particles in an oil lubricant, The friction coefficient in the boundary and fluid lubrication range was reduced to approximately 70% of the original value of pure lubricant.

Oil-based nanofluids were prepared by dispersing Ag, graphite and carbon black nanoparticles in lubricating oil. Agglomerated nanoparticles were dispersed evenly with a high-speed bead mill and/or ultrasonic homogenizer, and the surfaces of the nanoparticles were modified simultaneously with several dispersants. Their tribological behaviors were evaluated with a pin-on-disk, disk-on-disk and four-ball EP and wear tester. It is obvious that the optimal combination of nanoparticles, surfactants and surface modification process is very important for the dispersity of nanofluids, and it eventually affects the tribological properties as a controlling factor. Results indicate that a relatively larger size and higher concentration of nanoparticles lead to better load-carrying capacity. In contrast, the use of a smaller size and lower concentration of particles is recommended for reducing the friction coefficient of lubricating oil. Moreover, nanofluids with mixed nanoparticles of Ag and graphite are more suitable for the improvement of load-carrying capacity and antiwear properties.