Thermodynamic properties of gold–water nanofluids using molecular dynamics

The physical behavior of a nanofluids is still not fully understood. This work focuses on the study and understanding of equilibrium thermodynamic properties of several gold–water nanofluids using molecular dynamics simulations. Three different systems are considered, where gold nanoparticles with diameters of 2.6, 5.8, and 6.6 nm are suspended in water for effective nanoparticle volume fractions of 1, 10, and 15 %, respectively. Novelties of this study are in the use of accurate force fields for modeling the inter- and intramolecular interactions of the components, and providing comprehensive thermodynamic properties of the nanofluids. The results are validated with the pure fluid and solid properties. Results indicate that the thermodynamics of the system does not behave as an ideal mixture, due to a combination of several factors such as liquid layering, anisotropicity, and other solid–liquid interfacial effects.