Optical and Transport Properties of Metal–Oil Nanofluids for Thermal Solar Industry: Experimental Characterization, Performance Assessment, and Molecular Dynamics Insights

Concentrating solar power (CSP) technology can become a very valuable contributor to the transformation and decarbonization of our energy landscape, but for this overcome barrier toward market deployment, significant enhancements in solar-to-thermal-to-electric conversion efficiency are needed. Here, an in-depth experimental analysis optical transport properties Pd-containing aromatic oil-based nanofluids is presented, with promising results their prospective use as volumetric absorbers heat transfer fluids next-generation parabolic-trough CSP plants. A 0.030 wt % concentration Pd nanoplates increases sunlight extinction by 90% after 20 mm propagation length thermal conductivity 23.5% at 373 K, which enough increase overall system up 45.3% reduce pumping requirements 20%, minimum collector length. In addition that, molecular dynamics simulations used gain atomistic-level insights about momentum these nanofluids, focus on role played solid–liquid interface phenomena. Molecules chemisorbed behave shelter-like boundary that hinders conduction, high resistance path, minimizes impact solid dynamic viscosity, it weakens interactions between nanoplate surrounding nonadsorbed fluid molecules.