Table 2 Parameters of key VACNT membranes developed by other groups (Futaba et al. 2006; Zhao et al. 2009b; Ge et al. 2012; Skoulidas et al. 2002; Ackerman et al. 2003; Kumar et al. 2012; Gilani et al. 2013; Majumder et al. 2011; Krishnakumar et al. 2012; Mi et al. 2007)
CNT membrane | Our group | Mi group (Mi et al. 2007) | Hinds group (Hinds et al. 2004) | Holt group (Holt et al. 2006) | Kim group (Kim et al. 2007) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Main structure | VACNT + PDMS composite | Porous aluminium support | Free standing | Silicon water | PTFE Filter |
Filler material | PDMS | Polystyrene | Polystyrene | Silicon nitride | Polysulfone |
CNTs | MWCNT | MWCNT | MWCNT | DWCNT | SWCNT |
Average outer diameter (nm) | 20 | 20 | NAa | 2 | NA |
Average inner diameter (nm) | 8 | 6.3 | 7.5 ± 2.5 | 1.6 ± 0.4 | 1.2 |
Thickness of CNT layer (μm) | 25 | ~10 | 5–10 | 5 | 6 |
CNT density (tubes cm−2) | 5 × 109, 1010, 5 × 1010, 1011 | 1.87 × 109 | 6 × 1010 | 2.5 × 1011 | (7.0 ± 1.75) × 1010 |
Maximum permeance (LMHBar) | 917, 1007, 1111, 1203 | 475 | 1100 | 1080 | NA |