Ultrathin graphene oxide membranes on freestanding carbon nanotube supports for enhanced selective permeation in organic solvents

Among the various factors required for membranes in organic solvent separations, the stability of membrane supports is critical in the preparation of membranes with universal chemical stability, mechanical flexibility, and high flux. In this study, nanoporous freestanding carbon nanotube (CNT) films...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Scientific reports 2018-01, Vol.8 (1), p.1959-9, Article 1959
Main Authors: Kim, Seon Joon, Kim, Dae Woo, Cho, Kyeong Min, Kang, Kyoung Min, Choi, Junghoon, Kim, Daeok, Jung, Hee-Tae
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
140/133
140/146
639/301/357/73
639/301/357/918
Acetone
Dimethylformamide
Humanities and Social Sciences
Membranes
Molecular weight
multidisciplinary
Nanotubes
Naphthalene
Organic solvents
Science
Science (multidisciplinary)
Solvents
Toluene
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Summary:Among the various factors required for membranes in organic solvent separations, the stability of membrane supports is critical in the preparation of membranes with universal chemical stability, mechanical flexibility, and high flux. In this study, nanoporous freestanding carbon nanotube (CNT) films were fabricated and utilized as supports for enhanced permeation in organic solvents. The excellent chemical stability of the CNT support allowed it to withstand various organic solvents such as toluene, acetone, and dimethylformamide. In addition, the structural stability and high pore density of CNT supports allowed the deposition of an ultrathin selective layer for an enhanced-flux membrane. Membrane performance was demonstrated by depositing a thin graphene oxide (GO) layer on the CNT support; GO was selected because of its high chemical stability. CNT-supported GO membranes effectively blocked molecules with molecular weight larger than ~800 g mol −1 while allowing the fast permeation of small molecules such as naphthalene (permeation was 50 times faster than that through thick GO membranes) and maintaining selective permeation in harsh solvents even after 72 hours of operation. We believe that the developed CNT support can provide fundamental insights in utilizing selective materials toward organic solvent membranes.
ISSN:2045-2322
2045-2322
DOI:10.1038/s41598-018-19795-z