Enhanced Thermal Conductivity of CNT‐Polymer Liquid Crystal Nanofluid Explained Theoretically through First‐Order Isotropic‐Nematic Transition

ABSTRACT This work focuses on synthesizing amorphous carbon nanotube (CNT) and thereafter developing nanofluid by dispersing CNTs in polymer liquid crystal in different volume fractions (φ). Experimental results showed improved thermal conductivity of the nanofluid with increasing CNT volume fraction φ. This result was explained theoretically by Landau‐de Gennes and Doi type free energy model where the enhancement of thermal transport was explained as a result of increased nematic order parameter with ‘φ’ inside the nanofluid, during first order isotropic‐nematic phase transition. Theoretically calculated specific heat and thermal conductivity of the nanocomposite also showed enhancement with increasing ‘φ’ which validates the experimental findings.