Nanoscale Mass Transport in CNT Membranes—From Fundamental Science to Applications

Enhanced fluid flow in carbon nanotubes (CNT) could enable major advancements in several membrane applications, from efficient water purification to low-cost recovery of high-value components. Challenges in fabricating large-area membranes with a high density of open, small-diameter, CNT pores have hampered the realization of their potential in practical applications. In addition, despite considerable effort in the last 15 years, many fundamental questions on the exact magnitude of the supported transport rates, flow rate dependence on CNT structural features and driving forces, etc. remain open, and this knowledge gap has further complicated the design of CNT-based fluidic systems. In this seminar, I will present work toward 1) addressing pending fundamental questions, such as the precise quantification of mass transport resistances in CNTs and 2) exploiting the enhanced fluid flow through these slippery nanochannels in large-area membranes. As illustrative examples, I will discuss use in hemodialysis and chem/bio protective garments. Demonstrated outstanding performances in these application areas highlight how CNT remarkable fluidic properties allow to overcome the permeance-selectivity trade-off typically encountered in nanoporous membranes and to outperform commercial products.<br/>This work was performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under Contract DE-AC52-07NA27344. LLNL-ABS-827764