NER: Carbon Nanotube/Polymer Composites for High Flux/High Selectivity Gas

提案标题：NER：用于高通量/高选择性气体分离膜的碳纳米管/聚合物复合材料提案编号：CTS-0403692/0406855主要研究员：EVA Marand/David Sholl研究所：弗吉尼亚理工学院和州立大学/卡内基梅隆大学本提案是对纳米科学与工程倡议(NSF03-043，NER)的响应。拟议的研究计划将结合实验和理论建模活动，以制备和表征高质量的纳米管/聚合物复合膜。Sholl最近的理论工作预测，如果将碳纳米管用作膜，其通量/选择性性能远远超过任何其他已知的无机或有机材料。目前，气体分离膜是由通常加工成中空纤维的聚合物材料制成的。然而，尽管能够以相对较低的成本生产坚固、大面积的膜，但聚合物膜的内在渗透性和选择性限制阻碍了其更广泛的应用。在这一探索性研究项目中，新型纳米复合膜的开发可以克服这种局限性。PI建议制备和表征纳米复合膜，该复合膜由开放的碳纳米管结合在专门设计的聚合物基质中组成。对纳米复合体系的原子化和多尺度建模将为理解和优化纳米复合体系的输运性质提供基本的反馈。组建的团队结合了分子建模、界面表征和纳米复合材料加工方面的研究专业知识，这将使私人投资机构能够有效地开展提案中概述的活动。就更广泛的影响而言，该研究计划可能会导致开发用于选择性气体分离的坚固、高渗透的膜，以及引入新的化学和方法，这些可用于制造高性能复合材料、传感器和其他包含碳纳米管的化学设备。该研究计划有针对研究生和本科生的强大教育内容，包括独特的跨学科和跨大学研究经验，将研究范例纳入本科生课程和其他教育推广活动。

AbstractProposal Title: NER: Carbon Nanotube/Polymer Composties for High Flux/High Selectivity Gas Separation Membranes Proposal Number: CTS-0403692/0406855Principal Investigator: Eva Marand/David ShollInstitution: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University/ Carnegie Mellon UniversityThis proposal was received in response to Nanoscale Science and Engineering initiative, NSF 03-043, category NER. The proposed research program will combine experimental and theoretical modeling activities to fabricate and characterize high quality nanotube/polymer composite membranes. Recent theoretical work by Sholl has predicted that carbon nanotubes, if used as membranes, have the flux/selectivity properties that far exceed those of any other known inorganic or organic material. Currently gas separation membranes are fabricated from polymeric materials that are typically processed as hollow fibers. However, despite the ability to produce robust, large-area membranes at relatively low cost, a wider implementation of polymer membranes is hindered by their intrinsic permeability and selectivity limitations. In this exploratory research project the development of novel nano-composite membranes could overcome such limitations. The PIs propose to fabricate and characterize nano-composite membranes, consisting of open-ended carbon nanotubes incorporated in specifically designed polymer matrices. Atomistic and multi-scale modeling of the nano-composite system will provide a fundamental feedback towards understanding and optimization of the transport properties of the nano-composite systems. The assembled team combines research expertise in molecular modeling, interfacial characterization and nano-composite processing, which will allow the PIs to effectively carry out the activities outlined in the proposal. In terms of the broader impacts, the research program may lead to the development of robust, highly permeable membranes for selective gas separations, as well as to the introduction of new chemistries and methods, which can be employed in the fabrication of high performance composites, sensors and other chemical devices incorporating carbon nanotubes. The research program has a strong educational component aimed at both graduate and undergraduate students, including unique interdisciplinary and inter-university research experience, inclusion of research examples into the undergraduate curriculum and other educational outreach activities.