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In their study, Mainak Majumder, Nitin Chopra and
Bruce J. Hinds of UK's Chemical and Materials Engineering Department,
and Rodney Andrews of UK's Center for Applied Energy Research found
the flow dynamics of carbon nanotube (CNT) membranes with pores
measuring 7 nanometers in diameter permit a fluid flow exceeded the
flows predicted by conventional hydrodynamic predictions.
In their study "Enhanced Flow in Carbon Nanotubes,"
the researchers note an "aligned CNT membrane has fast transit
approaching the extraordinary speed of biological channels. The
membrane fabrication is scalable to large areas, allowing for
industrially useful chemical separations.
"(E)ach side of the membrane can be independently
functionalized. These advantages make the aligned CNT membrane a
promising large-area platform to mimic protein channels for
sophisticated chemical separations, trans-dermal drug delivery and
selective chemical sensing," the researchers say. |
