Chemical Engineering Seminar

Synthetic single-walled metal oxide (aluminosilicate) nanotubes (SWNTs) are emerging materials for a number of applications involving molecular transport and adsorption due to their unique pore structure, high surface reactivity, and controllable dimensions. In this talk, we discuss the potential for employing SWNTs in next generation separation platforms based upon recent progress on synthesis, interior modification, molecular diffusion properties, transport modeling and composite membrane preparation of metal oxide SWNTs.

First, we describe the structure, synthesis, and characterization of the SWNTs. Thereafter, chemical modification of the nanotube interior is described as a means for tuning the nanotube properties for molecular separations. Interior functionalization of SWNTs (e.g. carbon nanotubes and metal oxide nanotubes) is a long-standing grand challenge in nanomaterials science. With controlled dehydration and dehydroxylation of SWNTs, we demonstrate that the SWNT inner surface can then be functionalized with various organic groups of practical interest via solid-liquid heterogeneous reactions. Finally, we describe mass transport measurements and modeling for composite membranes composed of SWNTs as fillers and matrix materials. This talk will give a comprehensive overview of the state-of-the-art of the use of SWNTs for potential separtion applications from both a nanoscale and a macroscale point of view.