Title: Membranes for nanometer-scale mass fast transport

Abstract

Nanoporous membranes comprising single walled, double walled, and multiwalled carbon nanotubes embedded in a matrix material were fabricated for fluid mechanics and mass transfer studies on the nanometer scale and commercial applications. Average pore size can be 2 nm to 20 nm, or seven nm or less, or two nanometers or less. The membrane can be free of large voids spanning the membrane such that transport of material such as gas or liquid occurs exclusively through the tubes. Fast fluid, vapor, and liquid transport are observed. Versatile micromachining methods can be used for membrane fabrication. A single chip can comprise multiple membranes. These membranes are a robust platform for the study of confined molecular transport, with applications in liquid and gas separations and chemical sensing including desalination, dialysis, and fabric formation.

Inventors:

Bakajin, Olgica ^[1]; Holt, Jason ^[2]; Noy, Aleksandr ^[3]; Park, Hyung Gyu ^[4]

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+ Show Inventor Affiliations

1. San Leandro, CA
2. Berkeley, CA
3. Belmont, CA
4. Oakland, CA

Issue Date:

Tue Oct 18 00:00:00 EDT 2011

Research Org.:

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE

OSTI Identifier:

1028789

Patent Number(s):

8038887

Application Number:

12/064,604

Assignee:

Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC (Livermore, CA)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):

B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B01 - PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL B01D - SEPARATION

B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B01 - PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL B01J - CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY

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B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B01 - PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL B01D - SEPARATION

B01D2325/02 - Details relating to pores or pososity of the membranes
B01D2325/04 - Characteristic thickness
B01D2325/10 - Catalysts being present on the surface of the membrane or in the pores
B01D2325/20 - Specific permeability or cut-off range
B01D53/228 - {characterised by specific membranes}
B01D67/0062 - {by micromachining techniques, e.g. using masking and etching steps, photolithography}
B01D67/0067 - {by carbonisation or pyrolysis}
B01D67/0072 - {by deposition from the gaseous phase, e.g. sputtering, CVD, PVD}
B01D69/02 - characterised by their properties
B01D69/04 - Tubular membranes
B01D71/02 - Inorganic material
B01D71/021 - {Carbon}

B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B01 - PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL B01J - CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY

B01J23/745 - Iron
B01J23/881 - and iron
B01J37/34 - Irradiation by, or application of, electric, magnetic or wave energy, e.g. ultrasonic waves {

B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B82 - NANOTECHNOLOGY B82Y - SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES

B82Y30/00 - Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites

C - CHEMISTRY C02 - TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE C02F - TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE

C02F1/441 - {by reverse osmosis}

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02A - TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE

Y02A20/131 - Reverse-osmosis

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y10 - TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC Y10S - TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS

Y10S977/751 - with specified chirality and/or electrical conductivity

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y10 - TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC Y10T - TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

Y10T428/249953 - Composite having voids in a component [e.g., porous, cellular, etc.]
Y10T428/249978 - Voids specified as micro

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DOE Contract Number:  

W-7405-ENG-48

Resource Type:

Patent

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE