Carbon-based membranes with confinement effect for mass transport: from carbon nano-tube membranes to graphene membranes

doi:10.11949/j.issn.0438-1157.20171018

Abstract

Abstract:

When fluid molecules transfer in a confined space where the dimensions of channels for mass transfer lower to the free motion distance of molecules, the intermolecular forces between the fluids and channel wall become the most prominent ones in nanoconfined systems and determine the mass transfer efficiency. Because of the frictionless effect of carbon channels smaller than 10 nm, the mass transfer resistance is small. As a result, both the mass transfer flux and selectivity of the carbon-based membranes could be high, which is expected to break the trade-off effect between flux and selectivity. The recent developments of carbon-based membranes with confinement effect for mass transport are reviewed. Two kinds of carbon-based membranes are briefly introduced, which are aligned carbon nano-tube membranes and stacked graphene-based membranes. The mass transfer mechanism in nanoconfined systems, the fabrication approaches of membranes and the potential applications such as water treatment, dehydration, desalination, ion separation and gas separation are summarized. The development of the carbon-based membrane with confinement effect for mass transport is prospected. The problems and solutions in the future are discussed. This paper will provide valuable guidance for design and application of the next generation of separation membranes with both high permeability and high selectivity achieved via confinement effect.

Key words: membranes, mass transfer, separation, confinement structure, carbon nanotubes, graphene

摘要：

限域传质是流体分子通过与其运动自由程相当的传质空间的过程，流体分子与限域壁面的作用与和流体分子间的相互作用决定了传质效率。当碳通道尺寸小于10 nm时，由于其壁面具有无摩擦效应，导致传质阻力小；因此，具有限域传质效应的碳基分离膜传质通量和选择性都高，有望成功突破渗透性和选择性的博弈效应。本文综述了近年来具有限域传质效应的碳基分离膜的研究进展，主要介绍了两类碳基分离膜，规整排列的碳纳米管膜和层层堆叠的石墨烯膜，概述了这两类膜的限域传质机理、构筑方法及其在水处理、脱水、脱盐、离子分离、气体分离等领域的应用。此外，展望了具有限域传质效应的碳基分离膜的发展及需要解决的问题。为创制新一代兼具高渗透性和高选择性的限域传质效应的分离膜的设计制备与应用提供了参考。

关键词: 膜, 传质, 分离, 限域结构, 碳纳米管, 石墨烯

CLC Number:

TQ028.8

LIU Zhuang, WANG Wei, JU Xiaojie, XIE Rui, CHU Liangyin. Carbon-based membranes with confinement effect for mass transport: from carbon nano-tube membranes to graphene membranes[J]. CIESC Journal, 2018, 69(1): 166-174.

刘壮, 汪伟, 巨晓洁, 谢锐, 褚良银. 具有限域传质效应的碳基分离膜——从碳纳米管膜到石墨烯膜[J]. 化工学报, 2018, 69(1): 166-174.

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