Polarity-dependent electrochemically controlled transport of water through carbon nanotube membranes

Zuankai Wang; Lijie Ci; Li Chen; Saroj Nayak; Pulickel M. Ajayan; Nikhil Koratkar

doi:10.1021/nl062853g

Polarity-dependent electrochemically controlled transport of water through carbon nanotube membranes

Zuankai Wang, Lijie Ci, Li Chen, Saroj Nayak, Pulickel M. Ajayan, Nikhil Koratkar

Research output: Journal article publication › Journal article › Academic research › peer-review

175 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We demonstrate here that water can be efficiently wet and pumped through superhydrophobic aligned multiwalled nanotube membranes by application of a small positive dc bias. At a critical bias (∼1.7 V), with the membrane acting as anode, there is an abrupt transition from a superhydrophobic to hydrophilic state. Interestingly, this phenomenon is strongly polarity dependent; for a negative bias applied to the membrane, 2 orders of magnitude higher bias is required for the transition. The polarity and voltage-dependent wetting that we report could be used to controllably wick fluids through nanotube membranes and could find various applications.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	697-702
Number of pages	6
Journal	Nano Letters
Volume	7
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1021/nl062853g
Publication status	Published - Mar 2007
Externally published	Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Bioengineering
General Chemistry
General Materials Science
Condensed Matter Physics
Mechanical Engineering

More information

10.1021/nl062853g

Cite this

@article{6a609dfdb67d49fb89bfc42ad80215ab,

title = "Polarity-dependent electrochemically controlled transport of water through carbon nanotube membranes",

abstract = "We demonstrate here that water can be efficiently wet and pumped through superhydrophobic aligned multiwalled nanotube membranes by application of a small positive dc bias. At a critical bias (∼1.7 V), with the membrane acting as anode, there is an abrupt transition from a superhydrophobic to hydrophilic state. Interestingly, this phenomenon is strongly polarity dependent; for a negative bias applied to the membrane, 2 orders of magnitude higher bias is required for the transition. The polarity and voltage-dependent wetting that we report could be used to controllably wick fluids through nanotube membranes and could find various applications.",

author = "Zuankai Wang and Lijie Ci and Li Chen and Saroj Nayak and Ajayan, {Pulickel M.} and Nikhil Koratkar",

year = "2007",

month = mar,

doi = "10.1021/nl062853g",

language = "English",

volume = "7",

pages = "697--702",

journal = "Nano Letters",

issn = "1530-6984",

publisher = "American Chemical Society",

number = "3",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Polarity-dependent electrochemically controlled transport of water through carbon nanotube membranes

AU - Wang, Zuankai

AU - Ci, Lijie

AU - Chen, Li

AU - Nayak, Saroj

AU - Ajayan, Pulickel M.

AU - Koratkar, Nikhil

PY - 2007/3

Y1 - 2007/3

N2 - We demonstrate here that water can be efficiently wet and pumped through superhydrophobic aligned multiwalled nanotube membranes by application of a small positive dc bias. At a critical bias (∼1.7 V), with the membrane acting as anode, there is an abrupt transition from a superhydrophobic to hydrophilic state. Interestingly, this phenomenon is strongly polarity dependent; for a negative bias applied to the membrane, 2 orders of magnitude higher bias is required for the transition. The polarity and voltage-dependent wetting that we report could be used to controllably wick fluids through nanotube membranes and could find various applications.

AB - We demonstrate here that water can be efficiently wet and pumped through superhydrophobic aligned multiwalled nanotube membranes by application of a small positive dc bias. At a critical bias (∼1.7 V), with the membrane acting as anode, there is an abrupt transition from a superhydrophobic to hydrophilic state. Interestingly, this phenomenon is strongly polarity dependent; for a negative bias applied to the membrane, 2 orders of magnitude higher bias is required for the transition. The polarity and voltage-dependent wetting that we report could be used to controllably wick fluids through nanotube membranes and could find various applications.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=34047190510&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1021/nl062853g

DO - 10.1021/nl062853g

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:34047190510

SN - 1530-6984

VL - 7

SP - 697

EP - 702

JO - Nano Letters

JF - Nano Letters

IS - 3

ER -

Polarity-dependent electrochemically controlled transport of water through carbon nanotube membranes

Abstract

ASJC Scopus subject areas

More information

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this