초록 ▼

Disclosed herein are articles for removing contaminants from a fluid, such as a liquid or gas, the article comprising carbon nanotubes, which comprise at least one molecule or cluster attached thereto or located therein, wherein the carbon nanotubes are present in the article in an amount sufficient

Disclosed herein are articles for removing contaminants from a fluid, such as a liquid or gas, the article comprising carbon nanotubes, which comprise at least one molecule or cluster attached thereto or located therein, wherein the carbon nanotubes are present in the article in an amount sufficient to reduce the concentration of contaminants in fluid that come into contact with the article. A method of making the nanomesh material used in such articles is also disclosed, as are methods of purifying fluids using these articles.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An article for removing contaminants from a fluid, said article comprising carbon nanotubes, at least one of which comprises at least one molecule or cluster attached thereto or located therein, wherein the carbon nanotubes are present in the article in an amount sufficient t

What is claimed is: 1. An article for removing contaminants from a fluid, said article comprising carbon nanotubes, at least one of which comprises at least one molecule or cluster attached thereto or located therein, wherein the carbon nanotubes are present in the article in an amount sufficient to reduce the concentration of contaminants in fluid that comes into contact with the article and are in the form of an assembled nanomesh in which the carbon nanotubes are connected or attached to other carbon nanotubes, to fibers, to particles, or any combination thereof. 2. The article of claim 1, further comprising a ridged or flexible, porous support substrate. 3. The article of claim 2, wherein the porous support substrate comprises a material chosen from ceramics, carbon or carbon based materials, metals or alloys, nonmetals, and plastics, and fibrous materials, said fibrous materials being woven or non-woven or any combination thereof. 4. The article of claim 1, wherein at least one molecule or cluster comprises an inorganic compound containing at least one metal atom chosen from: lithium, sodium, magnesium, aluminum, potassium, calcium, scandium, titanium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, gallium, rubidium, strontium, yttrium, zirconium, niobium, molybdenum, rhodium, palladium, silver, indium, tin, cesium, barium, lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, lutetium, hafnium, tantalum, tungsten, rhenium, osmium, iridium, platinum, gold, bismuth and at least one nonmetal atom chosen from: hydrogen, boron, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, fluorine, silicon, phosphorus, sulfur, chlorine, bromine, antimony, iodine and combinations thereof. 5. The article of claim 1, wherein the cluster comprises quantum dots. 6. The article of claim 1, wherein at least one molecule or cluster comprises an organic compound comprising one or more proteins, carbohydrates, polymers, aromatic or aliphatic alcohols, and nucleic acid. 7. The article of claim 1, wherein at least one cluster comprises at least one microorganism, tissue cell, bacteria, or nanobacteria. 8. The article of claim 1, wherein at least one molecule or cluster comprises an organic compound comprising one or more chemical group chosen from carboxyls, amines, arenes, nitriles, amides, alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, alcohols, ethers, esters, aldehydes, ketones, polyamides, polyamphiphiles, diazonium salts, metal salts, pyrenyls, thiols, thioethers, sulfhydryls, silanes, and combinations thereof. 9. The article of claim 1, wherein the assembled nanomesh comprises carbon nanotubes and glass fibers. 10. The article of claim 1, wherein the fiber is chosen from: (a) polymeric material chosen from single or multi-component polymers chosen from nylon, acrylic, methacrylic, epoxy, silicone rubbers, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyurethane, polystyrene, polycarbonates, aramids, polychloroprene, polybutylene terephthalate, poly-paraphylene terephtalamide, poly (p-phenylene terephtalamide), and polyester ester ketone, polyesters, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyvinylchloride, polyvinyl acetate, viton fluoroelastomer, polymethyl methacrylate, polyacrylonitrile, and combinations thereof; (b) ceramic material chosen from boron carbide, boron nitride, boron oxide, spinel, garnet, lanthanum fluoride, calcium fluoride, silicon carbide, carbon and its allotropes, glass, quartz, alumina, aluminum nitride, aluminum hydroxide, zirconium oxide, zirconium carbide, zirconium boride, zirconium nitride, hafnium boride, thorium oxide, yttrium oxide, magnesium oxide, cordierite, mullite, silicon nitride, ferrite, sapphire, steatite, titanium carbide, titanium nitride, titanium oxide, titanium boride, and combinations thereof; (c) at least one metallic material chosen from aluminum, boron, copper, cobalt, gold, platinum, palladium, silicon, steel, iridium, indium, iron, rhodium, palladium, gallium, germanium, tin, titanium, tungsten, nickel, niobium, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, silver, zirconium, yttrium, their oxides, hydrides, hydroxides and alloys thereof; (d) at least one biological material or derivative thereof chosen from silk fiber, cotton fiber, wool fiber, flax fiber, feather fibers, cellulose fiber extracted from wood, legumes or algae; (e) at least one carbon nanotube chosen from single walled, double walled or multi-walled carbon nanotubes that have either a nested or non-nested morphology of nano-horns, nano-spirals, nano-springs, dendrites, trees, spider nanotube structures, nanotube Y-junctions, and bamboo morphology or multi-stranded helices; and (f) at least one metallic oxide or metallic hydroxide nanowire. 11. The article of claim 1, wherein the fibers have a diameter ranging from 1 nm to 1 cm, and possess aspect ratios (length/diameter) from 2 to 109. 12. The article of claim 1, wherein at least one carbon nanotube is chosen from single walled, double walled or multi-walled carbon nanotubes that have either a nested or non-nested morphology of nano-horns, nano-spirals, nano-springs, dendrites, trees, spider nanotube structures, nanotube Y-junctions, bamboo morphology, multi-stranded helices, multi-stranded nested helicies, or nested helicies. 13. The article of claim 1, wherein said contaminants comprise one or more bacteria, viruses, oocysts, spores, molds, coliforms, parasites, pollens and fungi. 14. The article of claim 13, wherein the bacteria comprise anthrax, typhus, or cholera, the viruses comprises smallpox and hepatitis. 15. The article of claim 1, wherein said contaminants comprise one or more biological molecules chosen from DNA, RNA, and natural organic molecules. 16. The article of claim 1, wherein said contaminants comprise one or more chemical compound chosen from natural and synthetic organic molecules, inorganic contaminants, pharmaceuticals and ions. 17. The article of claim 16, wherein said natural and synthetic organic molecules are chosen from toxins, endotoxins, proteins, enzymes, pesticides, and herbicides, said inorganic contaminants are chosen from heavy metals, cleaning agents, fertilizers, inorganic poisons, said pharmaceuticals are chosen from medicines, solvents, reagents, and said ions are chosen from salt in seawater and airborne particles. 18. The article of claim 1, wherein at least one contaminant comprises at least one atom or ion chosen from the elements: antimony, arsenic, aluminum, selenium, hydrogen, lithium, boron, carbon, oxygen, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, chlorine, niobium, scandium, titanium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, gallium, germanium, bromine, strontium, yttrium, zirconium, molybdenum, rhodium, palladium, iodine, silver, cadmium, indium, tin, cesium, barium, lanthanum, tantalum, beryllium, copper, fluoride, mercury, tungsten, iridium, hafnium, rhenium, osmium, platinum, gold, mercury, thallium, lead, bismuth, polonium, radon, radium, thorium, uranium, plutonium, and radon. 19. The article of claim 1, wherein the fluid comprises: (a) a liquid chosen from water, petroleum and its byproducts, biological fluids, foodstuffs, alcoholic beverages, and pharmaceuticals, or (b) a gas chosen from air, industrial gases, and smoke from a vehicle, smoke stack, chimney, or cigarette, wherein said industrial gases comprise argon, nitrogen, helium, ammonia, and carbon dioxide. 20. The article of claim 1, further comprising multiple distinct layers of carbon nanotubes, wherein each layer reduces the amount of a different contaminant. 21. The article of claim 1, further comprising multiple distinct layers of carbon nanotubes, wherein there is a voltage differential between at least two of the layers. 22. The article of claim 21, wherein either AC voltages, DC voltages or combinations thereof, are applied, to at least one of said layers of carbon nanotubes to aid in the removal, separation, immobilization and/or destruction of contaminants. 23. The article of claim 22, wherein the voltage comprises AC voltage having a frequency and amplitude signal that is sufficient to disrupt the DeBye atmosphere surrounding at least one charged contaminant in said fluid. 24. The article of claim 23, wherein said charged contaminants are ions comprising the salt in sea and brackish waters. 25. The article of claim 23, wherein said ions comprise sodium, chloride, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfate, bicarbonate, manganese, iron, copper, mercury, gold, silver, platinum, lead, arsenic, uranium, and palladium. 26. The article of claim 23, wherein the charged contaminants are ions found in fresh water, wastewater and effluent streams. 27. The article of claim 24, wherein at least one of said multiple layers is sufficient to desalinate water and at least one other layer is sufficient to remove, separate, immobilize and/or destroy other contaminants. 28. The article of claim 27, wherein said other contaminants comprise one or more pathogens, viruses, microbiological organisms, DNA, RNA, natural organic molecules, molds, fungi, natural and synthetic toxins, heavy metals, endotoxins, proteins, prions, and enzymes. 29. The article of claim 27, wherein said other contaminants comprise at least one atom or ion chosen from antimony, arsenic, aluminum, selenium, hydrogen, lithium, boron, carbon, oxygen, sodium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, chlorine, niobium, scandium, titanium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, gallium, germanium, bromine, strontium, yttrium, zirconium, molybdenum, rhodium, palladium, iodine, silver, cadmium, indium, tin, cesium, tungsten, iridium, hafnium, rhenium, osmium, platinum, gold, mercury, thallium, lead, polonium, radon, radium, thorium, uranium, and plutonium. 30. The article of claim 1, wherein said fluid is water. 31. The article of claim 1, wherein said fluid comprises air. 32. The article of claim 1, further comprising at least one fiber chosen from glass, quartz, alumina, and aluminum hydroxide. 33. A method of reducing the amount of contaminants in a fluid, said method comprising: (a) contacting a fluid with an article comprising carbon nanotubes, a majority of which comprise at least one molecule or cluster attached thereto or located therein, wherein the carbon nanotubes are present in the article in an amount sufficient to reduce the concentration of at least one contaminant in fluid that comes into contact with the article and are in the form of an assembled nanomesh in which the carbon nanotubes are connected or attached to other carbon nanotubes, to fibers, to particles, or any combination thereof, and (b) removing at least one contaminant from the fluid. 34. The method of claim 33, wherein the article comprises multiple distinct layers of said carbon nanotubes. 35. The method of claim 33, wherein each of said multiple distinct layers reduces the amount of a different contaminant. 36. The method of claim 33, further comprising multiple distinct layers of carbon nanotubes, wherein there is a voltage differential between at least two of the layers. 37. The method of claim 36, wherein either AC voltages, DC voltages or combinations thereof, are applied, to at least one of said layers of carbon nanotubes to aid in the removal, separation, immobilization and/or destruction of contaminants. 38. The method of claim 37, wherein the voltage comprises AC voltage having a frequency and amplitude signal that is sufficient to disrupt the DeBye atmosphere surrounding at least one charged contaminant in said fluid. 39. The method of claim 37, wherein the DC voltage differential is in the range from greater than 0.0 to 200 kV. 40. The method of claim 37, wherein the AC voltage peak-to-peak amplitude is in the range from greater than 0.0 to 200 kV. 41. The method of claim 37, wherein the AC frequency is in the range of 1.0 millihertz to 1.0 terahertz. 42. The method of claim 38, wherein said charged contaminants are ions comprising the salt in sea and brackish waters. 43. The method of claim 33, wherein said ions comprise sodium, chloride, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfate, bicarbonate, manganese, iron, copper, mercury, gold, silver, platinum, lead, arsenic, uranium, and palladium. 44. The method of claim 43, wherein the charged contaminants are ions found in fresh water, wastewater and effluent streams. 45. The method of claim 33, wherein the fluid comprises salt water, and at least one of said multiple layers is sufficient to desalinate water and at least one other layer is sufficient to remove, separate, immobilize and/or destroy other contaminants in said salt water. 46. The method of claim 45, wherein said other contaminants comprise one or more pathogens, viruses, microbiological organisms, DNA, RNA, natural organic molecules, molds, fungi, natural and synthetic toxins, heavy metals, endotoxins, proteins, prions, and enzymes. 47. The method of claim 45, wherein said other contaminants comprise at least one atom or ion chosen from antimony, arsenic, aluminum, selenium hydrogen, lithium, boron, carbon, oxygen, sodium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, chlorine, niobium, scandium, titanium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, gallium, germanium, bromine, strontium, yttrium, zirconium, molybdenum, rhodium, palladium, iodine, silver, cadmium, indium, tin, cesium, tungsten, iridium, hafnium, rhenium, osmium, platinum, gold, mercury, thallium, lead, polonium, radon, radium, thorium, uranium, and plutonium. 48. The method of claim 33, wherein said fluid is water. 49. The method of claim 33, wherein said fluid comprises air. 50. The method of claim 33, further comprising at least one fiber chosen from glass or alumina. 51. A method of preparing a nanomesh material comprising carbon nanotubes, said method comprising: (a) treating the carbon nanotubes by exposing the carbon nanotubes to at least one chemical, radiative or mechanical treatment; (b) rinsing the carbon nanotubes in at least one solvent chosen from aqueous, inorganic, and organic solvents; (c) forming a suspension of carbon nanotubes by mixing said carbon nanotubes with at least one solvent chosen from aqueous, inorganic, and organic solvents, said suspension optionally containing fibers, particles or combinations thereof, wherein one or more carbon nanotubes comprise at least one molecule or cluster attached thereto or located therein; and (d) depositing the suspension onto a porous substrate to form a nanomesh layer of carbon nanotubes on the porous substrate, wherein the carbon nanotubes are connected or attached to other carbon nanotubes, to said fibers, to said particles, or any combination thereof. 52. The method of claim 51, wherein said chemical treatment comprises a treatment with an oxidizer, said radiative treatment comprises at least one of microwave, E-beam, and heat treatment, and said mechanical treatment comprises at least one of sonication and stirring. 53. The method of claim 51, wherein said treatment of (a) is in an amount sufficient to create defects, said carbon nanotubes comprising at least one functional group attached to at least one of said defects or to a non-defective surface of said carbon nanotubes. 54. The method of claim 51, wherein the attachment of functional chemical groups to the carbon nanotubes are in an amount sufficient to adjust the zeta potential of the resulting functionalized carbon nanotube. 55. The method of claim 51, wherein the carbon nanotubes are multi-walled and have a length ranging from 0.1 μm to 100 mm, and a diameter ranging from 1 to 300 nm. 56. The method of claim 52, wherein the oxidizer comprises one or more oxidizer chosen from nitric, sulfuric, hydrochloric or hydrofluoric acids, potassium permanganate, hydrogen peroxide or a mixture thereof, in an amount sufficient to attach at least one functional group to a surface of the carbon nanotube. 57. The method of claim 56, wherein at least one functional group comprises a carboxyl group. 58. The method of claim 56, wherein at least one functional group comprises an amine or polyamine group. 59. The method of claim 51, wherein the least one solvent comprises water, an alcohol, or mixtures thereof. 60. The method of claim 51, wherein the suspension is deposited by differential pressure deposition. 61. The method of claim 51, wherein the suspension is deposited onto a carbon based substrate. 62. The method of claim 53, further comprising forming at least one additional suspension, said additional suspension having a ratio of functionalized carbon nanotubes to fibers different from said first suspension. 63. The method of claim 62, comprising forming at least two alternating layers of nanomesh, wherein at least one layer is formed from the first suspension and at least one additional layer is formed from the additional suspension. 64. The method of claim 51, wherein the porous support substrate comprises a sheet or block of a material chosen from ceramic, carbon, metal, and plastic, and a fibrous material, said fibrous material being woven or non-woven. 65. The method of claim 51, wherein at least one molecule or cluster comprises an inorganic compound containing at least one atom chosen from aluminum, selenium, hydrogen, lithium, boron, carbon, oxygen, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, chlorine, scandium, titanium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, gallium, germanium, bromine, strontium, yttrium, zirconium, niobium, molybdenum, rhodium, palladium, iodine, silver, indium, tin, cesium, barium, lanthanum, tantalum, tungsten, iridium, hafnium, rhenium, osmium, platinum, gold, mercury, thallium, bismuth. 66. The method of claim 51, wherein the cluster comprises quantum dots. 67. The method of claim 51, wherein at least one molecule or cluster comprises an organic compound comprising one or more proteins, carbohydrates, polymers, aromatic or aliphatic alcohols, and nucleic or non-nucleic. 68. The method of claim 51, wherein at least one molecule or cluster comprises an organic compound comprising one or more chemical group chosen from carboxyls, amines, arenes, nitriles, amides, alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, alcohols, ethers, esters, aldehydes, ketones, polyamides, polyamphiphiles, diazonium salts, metal salts, pyrenyls, thiols, thioethers, sulfhydryls, silanes, and combinations thereof. 69. The method of claim 51, wherein said fiber is chosen from: (a) at least one polymeric material chosen from single or multi-component polymers chosen from nylon, acrylic, methacrylic, epoxy, silicone rubbers, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyurethane, polystyrene, polycarbonates, aramids, polychloroprene, polybutylene terephthalate, poly-paraphylene terephtalamide, poly (p-phenylene terephtalamide), and polyester ester ketone, polyesters, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyvinylchloride, polyvinyl acetate, viton fluoroelastomer, polymethyl methacrylate, polyacrylonitrile, and combinations thereof; (b) at least one ceramic material chosen from boron carbide, boron nitride, boron oxide, spinel, garnet, lanthanum fluoride, calcium fluoride, glass, quartz, silicon carbide, silicon nitride, carbon and its allotropes, alumina, aluminum hydroxide, aluminum nitride, zirconium oxide, zirconium carbide, hafnium boride, thorium oxide, yttrium oxide, manganese oxide, manganese hydroxide, magnesium oxide, magnesium hydroxide, cordierite, mullite, ferrite, sapphire, steatite, titanium carbide, titanium nitride, titanium boride, zirconium boride, zirconium nitride, and combinations thereof; (c) at least metallic material chosen from aluminum, boron, copper, cobalt, gold, platinum, palladium, silicon, steel, titanium, rhodium, iridium, indium, iron, palladium, gallium, germanium, tin, tungsten, niobium, manganese, magnesium, molybdenum, nickel, silver, zirconium, yttrium, and oxides, hydroxides and/or alloys thereof; and (d) at least one biological material or derivative thereof chosen from cotton, cellulose, wool, silk, and feathers, and combinations thereof. 70. The method of claim 51, wherein the metal in the metal coated or decorated glass fibers comprises iron hydroxide. 71. The method of claim 51, wherein said fibers comprise metal, metal oxide, or metal hydroxide coated or decorated glass fibers having a diameter ranging from 0.1 μm-5 μm. 72. The method of claim 53, wherein the carbon nanotubes are functionalized to adjust their zeta potential in order to control their attraction to other carbon nanotubes, to particles, to fibers or to combinations thereof.