Simulations On Photothermal Effect Of Gold Nanoparticles In Composite Materials

Strong electric field were produced when laser irradiation to the goldnanoparticles, which make charge carrier transfer in nanoparticles then the thermalenergy would be generated, when the medium surrounding the gold nanoparticleswould be heated. When the gold nanoparticles were add into the transparentthermoset composites, the effect of photothermal can be used to realization thecomposite materials.This paper first studied the influence of carbon nanotubes and carbon fiber onthe photothermal effect of gold nanoparticles in a polymer composites by finiteelement simulation via a commercial software ANSYS, and discusses the effectrelationship of relevant variables of carbon nanotubes on temperature distribution.Then the simulation is based on the equation of point heat source in an infinitemedium, studies the effects of laser irradiation on the photothermal effect of goldnanoparticles distributed in epoxy composites theoretically. Get the calculationformula of the gold nanoparticles add quantity under condition of different, anddiscusses the effect relationship of relevant variables on volume fraction of goldnanoparticles.The research results showed that:1）Temperature distribution is calculated forsingle gold nanoparticle with thermal conductive phase in approximation. Tworeinforcements: carbon fibers and carbon nanotubes were investigated to reveal thedependence of the photothermal effect on the dimensions of the thermalconductive phases. It was found that, micrometer-sized reinforcements, such ascarbon fiber depressed the photothermal effect by diffusing the heat generated bygold particles far away rapidly, while on the contrary, nanoscale reinforcements,such as carbon nanotube were able to enhance the effect dramatically. Uniformtemperature distribution of the system and effective heating volume of goldnanoparticles to system can be enhanced by improving the rate of thermalconductivity of the carbon nanotubes, maintaining the carbon nanotubes to acertain length and reducing the distance between gold nanoparticles and carbonnanotubes.2）Transient temperature distribution is calculated with the variation ofthe irradiation parameters, such as the intensity, the heating and cooling ratio in a single cycle. Temperature distribution is strongly dependent on the irradiationparameters, and the pulsed laser irradiation can effectively improve the uniformityof the system temperature distribution and significantly reduce the required laserirradiation intensity.3）Want to epoxy resin of specified volume reached therequired temperature, increase the light intensity and irradiation scope, can reduceaddition amount of the gold nanoparticles; want to surface of carbon fiber reachedthe required temperature, increase the light intensity, radius of gold nanoparticles,irradiation scope, and reduced thickness of the heating, can reduce additionamount of the gold nanoparticles; the macro situation, want to epoxy resin ofspecified volume reached the required temperature, increase the light intensity,irradiation scope, and reduced volume of the heating, can reduce addition amountof the gold nanoparticles.