Evaporation of silver-graphene hybrid nanofluid droplet on its nanostructured residue and plain copper surfaces at elevated temperatures

Droplet evaporation is an efficient process as it removes a large amount of heat by using the latent energy, making it suitable for heat transfer applications. In this research, evaporation of the silver-graphene hybrid nanofluid (SGHF) droplet, because of its synergistic thermal conductivity, is investigated for substrate temperature in a range of 25-100 °C. The experiments for droplet evaporation were performed in an environmental facility for two droplet sizes, 3 µL and 30 µL volume, on a copper plate. A 100 W silicone heater mat was used to heat the copper plate from the underside, while two T-type thermocouples were used to monitor its surface temperature. As droplet evaporation ended, a porous residue was formed on the copper surface. Subsequently, a 3 µL volume of the SGHF droplet was dispensed on the porous residue surface. The results showed a tremendous rise in the evaporation rate (up to 160%) for the subsequent SGHF droplet sitting on the porous residue as compared to the non-wetted copper surface. Moreover, the evaporation rate of the SGHF droplet on the copper surface increased up to 56% as compared to the water droplet for a substrate temperature range of 25-100 °C.