Impact of Arrhenius activation energy on MHD nanofluid flow past a stretching sheet with exponential heat source: A modified Buongiorno’s model approach

Abstract

Nanofluids have a wide range of applications in biological research. They are employed in targeted medication administration, hyperthermia (for cancer treatment) and differential diagnostics like magnetic resonance image (MRI). In light of these medical applications, the impact of an external magnetic field and an exponential heat source on the dynamics of TiO2–H2O over a nonlinearly stretched surface has been investigated. A realistic modified Buongiorno model has been used which includes the effects of reaction rate, Biot number and activation energy. The boundary value problem governing the model is solved on MATLAB R2022a using the solver, BVP5C. Further, the consequences of different parameters on rate of heat transfer coefficient (Nusselt number), rate of mass transfer coefficient (Sherwood number), drag coefficient, velocity, temperature and volume fraction profile are observed graphically. It is noted that volume fraction and uniform heat source intensity have a positive effect on the Nusselt number and negative effect on Sherwood number. The effects of thermal radiation and magnetic field on volume fraction profile are, respectively, positive and negative. The current physics of flow across a vertical stretching surface is expected to serve as the foundation for various medical science, engineering and technology applications.