A review on synthesis and application of solvent-free nanofluids

Nanoparticles have a lot of unique properties because of their unique surface and volume characters, and they have been successfully applied in various fields. The aggregation of the nanoparticles is an inevitable question. To extend the application of nanoparticles, solvent-free nanofluids or liquid-like nanoparticles with a core coated with flexible organic chains had been established by researchers at the beginning of the twenty-first century. Possessing unique properties and functionalities, solvent-free nanofluids can prevent the aggregation of nanoparticles. Besides, they could provide a new platform for common nanoparticles on functionalization and application. This article reviews the development and tendency of solvent-free nanofluids, including synthesis methods and promising applications of different kinds of solvent-free nanofluids. The approaches for synthesis of solvent-free nanofluids with different cores, corona, and canopy will be presented. Applications of these solvent-free nanofluids in a variety of areas comprising gas capture and separation, polymer modification and reinforcement, ionic electrolytes, luminescent materials, and decolorization are also discussed. [Figure not available: see fulltext.]