Experimental Study On Physical Behaviors Of Ion Diffusion And Polymer Chains In Nanochannels Of Carbon Nanotube Arrays

Due to the excellent physical and chemical properties of carbaon nanotubes,carbon nanotubes have been widely studied in recent years.The physical behaviors of ion diffusion and polymer chains in the nanochannels of carbon nanotubes is different from their physical behaviors without confinement.In this paper,we use multi-walled carbon nanotubes/epoxy composite membranes to study the ion flow rate in the inner channels of carbon nanotubes.After an electroactive treatment,the ions flow rate inside the nanochannels of carbon nanotubes dramatically increases.We also use multi-walled carbon nanotube arrays to study the physical behaviors of polymer chains in intertube channels of carbon nanotube arrays.Poly(ethylene oxide)/carbon nanotubes,polystyrenes/carbon nanotubes,polymethylmethacrylate/carbon nanotubes composites were prepared by immersing the carbon nanotube arrays in a polymer solution and drying them.Oriented poly(ethylene oxide)lamellae are formed in nanochannels of carbon nanotube arrays.The glass transition temperature of polystyrene decreases in nanochannels.An increase in the glass transition temperature of polymethyl methacrylate is observed.