Carbon nanotube-bonded graphene hybrid aerogels and their application to water purification

We present carbon nanotube (CNT)-bonded graphene hybrid aerogels that are prepared by growing CNTs on a graphene aerogel surface with nickel catalyst. The presence of bonded CNTs in the graphene aerogel results in vastly improved mechanical and electrical properties. A significant increase in specific surface area is also realized. The presence of the CNTs transforms the hybrid aerogels into a mesoporous material. The viscoelasticity of the hybrid aerogels is found to be invariant with respect to temperature over a range of between -150 °C and 450 °C. These characteristics along with the improved properties make the hybrid aerogels an entirely different class of material with applications in the fields of biotechnology and electrochemistry. The mesoporous nature of the material along with its high specific surface area also makes the hybrid aerogel attractive for application in water treatment. Both anionic and cationic dyes can be effectively removed from water by the hybrid aerogel. A number of organics and oils can be selectively separated from water by the hybrid aerogel. The hybrid aerogel is easy to handle and separate from water due to its magnetic nature, and can readily be recycled and reused.