NANOPOROUS MEMBRANES FOR FAST DIFFUSION OF IONS AND SMALL MOLECULES

摘要

A product includes a nanoporous membrane having a plurality of carbon nanotubes and a fill material in interstitial spaces between the carbon nanotubes for limiting or preventing fluidic transfer between opposite sides of the nanoporous membrane except through interiors of the carbon nanotubes. The longitudinal axes of the carbon nanotubes are substantially parallel, an average inner diameter of the carbon nanotubes is about 20 nanometers or less, and both ends of at least some of the carbon nanotubes are open. Moreover, the fill material is impermeable or having an average porosity that is less than the average inner diameter of the carbon nanotubes.