Carbon nanotube membrane systems and methods of synthesis
View Patent ↗Some embodiments include a method of preparing a membrane by dispersing carbon nanotubes in a solvent, and preparing a slurry from the dispersion by removing at least a portion of the solvent. The method includes applying the slurry to a first surface, and forming a carbon nanotube membrane by compressing the slurry between the first surface and at least a second surface. Some embodiments forming a composite assembly by sandwiching the carbon nanotube membrane between two or more bleeder cloth layers to form an uncured assembly, and applying a curable resin to a first side of the uncured assembly, and applying a curable resin to a second side of the uncured assembly, and curing the uncured assembly.
1. A membrane forming method comprising:
preparing a dispersion of at least one solvent and a plurality of carbon nanotubes, wherein the at least one solvent comprises at least one alcohol or acetone, and wherein the dispersion is free of surfactant;
preparing a concentrated slurry from at least a portion of the dispersion by removing at least a portion of the at least one solvent using sonication;
applying at least a portion of the slurry to a first surface; and
forming a carbon nanotube membrane by compressing at least a portion of the slurry between the first surface and at least a second surface.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one solvent comprises at least one alcohol.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the at least one alcohol comprises methanol, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, or a combination thereof.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one solvent comprises acetone.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sonication is induced using a tip-sonicator.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the tip-sonicator operates at a frequency of about 20 KHz.
7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the tip-sonicator operates at a power level of about 15 Watts.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the carbon nanotube membrane is mechanically self-supporting upon removal from at least one of the first surface and the second surface.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first surface and the second surface are pressed together at a rate of about 0.2 mm/s.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of carbon nanotubes includes at least one of single-wall carbon nanotubes and multi-wall carbon nanotubes.
11. A composite assembly method comprising:
forming a carbon nanotube membrane using a method comprising:
preparing a dispersion of at least one solvent and a plurality of carbon nanotubes, wherein the at least one solvent comprises at least one alcohol or acetone, and wherein the dispersion is free of surfactant;
preparing a concentrated slurry from at least a portion of the dispersion by removing at least a portion of the at least one solvent using sonication;
applying at least a portion of the slurry to a first surface;
forming a carbon nanotube membrane by compressing at least a portion of the slurry between the first surface and at least a second surface; and
sandwiching the carbon nanotube membrane between two or more bleeder cloth layers to form an uncured assembly;
applying at least one curable resin to a first side of the uncured assembly;
applying at least one curable resin to a second side of the uncured assembly; and
forming the composite assembly by curing the uncured assembly.
12. The composite assembly method of claim 11 , wherein the sonication is induced using a tip-sonicator.
13. The composite assembly method of claim 11 , wherein the carbon nanotube membrane is at least partially dried prior to forming the uncured assembly.
14. The composite assembly method of claim 11 , wherein the curable resin at least partially permeates at least a portion of the carbon nanotube membrane.
15. The composite assembly method of claim 11 , wherein the curable resin comprises an epoxy-based monomer.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the concentrated slurry has a concentration of 25 mg/mL or greater.
17. A membrane forming method comprising:
preparing a dispersion consisting of a solvent and a plurality of carbon nanotubes, wherein the solvent is an alcohol, acetone, or a combination thereof;
preparing a slurry from at least a portion of the dispersion by removing at least a portion of the at least one solvent;
applying at least a portion of the slurry to a first surface; and
forming a carbon nanotube membrane by compressing at least a portion of the slurry between the first surface and at least a second surface.