Abstract

Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) exhibit low toxicity and high chemical stability, attractive for developing of nanofluids (NFs) for advanced medical applications. This research focuses on the study of the optical, mechanical, and electrical dynamics of iron oxide–ethanol NFs. A novel sensitive methodology for analyzing the influence of nanoparticles (NPs) over the optical and electrical processes exhibited by IONFs is reported. The IONPs were synthesized by a microemulsion route and were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The NPs exhibit a mean diameter of 30 nm and they were identified as Fe2O3. UV–Vis spectroscopy allows us determining the volume fraction of the fluid as a function of time. The assistance of a Michelson interferometer integrated with an image processing methodology was employed to explore the dynamics of the nanostructures. The percentage of NPs involved in linear and nonlinear dynamic fluid processes was estimated by taking a double-stage (spatial and frequency domains) Fast Fourier Transform in the interferometric pattern. A DC voltage source was used to study the electrical conductivity of the NF as it was being sedimented. The opto-mechatronic parameters were correlated, considering the volume fraction as the main variable to determine the optical and electrical characteristics. For the Fe2O3 NF, it is identified that the linear effects of sedimentation present a stronger impact on the optical properties, while the nonlinear interactions have more influence on the electrical conductivity. The main findings of this research have potential applications in rheological instrumentation to analyze complex effects using transient opto-mechatronic components. © 2024 Elsevier B.V.