Fabrication and characterization of carbon nanotubes immobilized in porous polymeric membranes

Journal of Materials Chemistry Pub Date: 2009-04-21 DOI: 10.1039/B822879E

Abstract

We demonstrate that the incorporation of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in the pores of a membrane can offer several advantages. A dispersion of CNTs in polyvinylidene fluoride was injected through a porous membrane, which immobilized the nanotubes in the pore structure. The CNTs served as a sorbent facilitating solute exchange between the two phases leading to enhancement of the enrichment factor by as much as 93%. The presence of CNTs also developed a diffusion barrier by sorbing solvent on its surface, which led to higher retention of the extractant within the membrane.

Graphical abstract: Fabrication and characterization of carbon nanotubes immobilized in porous polymeric membranes
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