Trapping nanostructures
View Patent ↗A trap Including: an inlet configured to receive a fluid conveying nanostructures; ionic liquid configured to trap the nanostructures; and an outlet for the fluid.
1. A method comprising:
receiving a fluid conveying nanostructures, the nanostructures comprising graphene;
trapping the nanostructures using ionic liquid, the ionic liquid comprising a room temperature ionic liquid comprising an ionic salt;
recycling the nanostructures to a source of the nanostructures; and
exhausting the fluid;
wherein the nanostructures are reversibly trapped by π-π electron system interactions.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising recovering trapped nanostructures from the ionic liquid.
3. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising transporting or storing nanostructures as trapped nanostructures within the ionic liquid.
4. A method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising dispersing the nanostructures within the ionic liquid.
5. A method as claimed in claim 4 , wherein dispersing the nanostructures comprises ultrasonically dispersing the nanostructures.
6. The method as claimed in claim 4 , wherein dispersing the nanostructures comprises chemically dispersing the nanostructures using a dispersing agent or a dispersing additive.
7. The method as claimed in claim 4 , wherein dispersing the nanostructures comprises thermodynamically dispersing the nanostructures using a heater.