Robust carbon nanotube membranes and methods of making the same
View Patent ↗Carbon nanotube membranes that are flexible, non-fragile, stable at high temperatures, superhydrophobic, have submicrometer openings, and are resistant to delamination and corrosive conditions are provided. The carbon nanotube membranes comprise carbon nanotubes grown on a microporous, metal substrate, e.g. silver, quartz fiber filter, and HAST. Methods of fabricating the carbon nanotubes are also provided.
1. A carbon nanotube membrane comprising a substrate coated with carbon nanotubes, wherein the substrate has micrometer-sized openings and wherein the substrate is selected from silver, nickel sputtered silver, Hastelloy C22 (HAST) and quartz fiber filter.
2. The carbon nanotube membrane according to claim 1 , wherein the carbon nanotube membrane is resistant to thermal and oxidative weight loss up to about 500° C.
3. The carbon nanotube membrane according to claim 1 , wherein the carbon nanotube membrane is superhydrophobic.
4. The carbon nanotube membrane according to claim 1 , wherein the carbon nanotube membrane has pore openings of about 0.5 nm to about 500 nm.
5. The carbon nanotube membrane according to claim 1 , wherein the carbon nanotube membrane is flexible, non-fragile, and resistant to delamination and corrosive conditions, compared to a membrane with a stainless steel substrate.
6. A carbon nanotube membrane according to claim 1 , which is resistant to corrosion in acids or salt solutions, compared to a membrane with a stainless steel substrate.
7. A carbon nanotube membrane according to claim 6 wherein the acid is selected from hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, and nitric acid and wherein the salt solution is selected from a solution of sodium chloride or calcium chloride.
8. A carbon nanotube membrane according to claim 1 which is resistant to corrosion in water or humid conditions, compared to a membrane with a stainless steel substrate.
9. A carbon nanotube membrane according to claim 1 which is resistant to delamination and disintegration of the CNT structure, as determined in an adhesion performance test according to ASTM D3359 or as determined in a sonication performance test for 40 seconds at a frequency of 20 KHz and an input energy of 240 W/L using a Fisher Scientific F550 sonic dismembrator or equivalent instrument.