By embedding a network of supported carbon nanotubes, researchers have developed a method to improve the performance of thin graphene films, a graphene film designed for desalination, thereby reducing chipping or tearing and destroying the entire Possibility of desalination system.
Testing of the materials shows that this new type of graphene composite membrane has a level of high water permeability and salt separation that was previously unattainable. An ideal desalination (removal of salt from seawater to produce potable fresh water) material, which should be thin but strong enough to withstand long-term use, and should contain uniform and uniformly distributed particles for effective ion separation Porosity.
2D graphene with nano-sized pores is very suitable for this purpose, and they have demonstrated particularly fast and effective desalination performance in experiments. However, as membrane surface area increases, they are prone to defects and damage.
Yanbing Yang and colleagues developed an atom-thick graphene nanomesh (GNM) that is reinforced by interweaving single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs). These CNTs can physically separate the GNM material to form a structural framework (similar to the Voronoi-like cells on the wings of a dragonfly), which can provide centimeter-scale mechanical stability.
In addition, the CNT network prevents the expansion of the graphene tear, effectively limiting any damage to a small area. The material also has highly effective desalination capabilities. According to Yang et al., Because there is no fundamental limitation in the production of large sheets of graphene reinforced with CNTs, these films may easily be scaled up to the meter level.
In a related article, Baoxia Mi noted that this study represents a "major milestone in which nanoporous graphene films can be scaled up." Nevertheless, there is still a way to go before implementing this technology in the real world of desalination systems.