Synthesis and characterization of cubic cobalt oxide nanocomposite fluids

Narrow size distribution cubic Co3O4 nanoparticles were synthesized and rheological properties of suspensions of the cubes in oligomeric polyethylene glycol (PEG) were explored over a range of particle volume fractions and rotational shear flow conditions. At low and high particle volume fractions, the relative viscosity of the suspensions is described by a Krieger–Dougherty formula with an intrinsic viscosity consistent with expectations for suspensions of ideal cuboids. At intermediate to high particle loadings, the suspensions manifest complex rheological behavior, including shear thinning and shear-thickening features. These observations are discussed in terms of the charge carried by the cubes and the shear rate/volume fraction dependency of the transition from shear thinning to shear thickening.