Carbon Nanotube Membrane for controlled transportation

15 June 2007

Various researchers have already studied fluid flow in micrometer level carbon nanotube channels. These open-ended carbon nanotube offer various possibilities as conduits for flow especially for low surface tension fluid as these nanomaterials have excellent rigid cylindrical pores. Selected microfabrication technique can enhance the possibilities for development of various small-scale-devices. These small-scale devices or lab-on-a-chip can play a key role in chemical analysis or synthesis.

Actually modifying their surfaces, scientists can enhance the molecular selectivity of carbon nanotubes. Researchers has already established various applications of nanotubes or nanopores such as molecule detection, storage and delivery of encapsulation media, biocatalysis, biomolecule separation devices and for selective and rapidgas flow. Researchers have studied and fabricated a well-ordered membrane structure by aligning array of carbon nanotubes impregnated in polystyrene matrix.

The open tips of carbon nanotube in the membrane structure are attached with carboxylate that can be easily functionalized. This functionalization especially with a bulky receptor can subsequently be used to open or close the pore. Thus the membrane structure is suitable for the gas flow or ionic transport. Recently researchers have fabricated functionalized carbon nanotube at the end and its application as ionic transport has been achieved. Researchers could achieve this by releasing receptor in controlled fashion.

Scientists have also developed an inner-coated carbon nanotube. Here the inside walls of carbon nanotubes within the carbon nanotube membrane contains the redox-active polymer film. The specifically selected polymer film can be reversibly switched electrochemically and therefore it controls both the directionand magnitude of electroosmotic flow through carbon nanotube membrane.

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