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Percolation Effects in Mixed Matrix Membranes with Embedded Carbon Nanotubes
Yury Eremin1, Alexey Grekhov1, Anton Belogorlov1,2,3
1Molecular Physics Department, National Research Nuclear University Moscow Engineering Physics Institute, Kashirskoe Highway 31, 119991 Moscow, Russia.
Membranes
|November 11, 2022
Summary
Composite membranes with embedded carbon nanotubes (CNTs) exhibit enhanced permeability. This study models their behavior as parallel transport through the polymer matrix and CNT-bound regions, explaining permeability changes with particle concentration.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Chemical Engineering
- Polymer Science
Background:
- Polymeric membranes with embedded nanoparticles, like carbon nanotubes (CNTs), show increased permeability while maintaining selectivity.
- The underlying mechanisms for this enhanced performance in composite membranes remain incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose and validate a model explaining the abnormal permeability behavior of polymer composite membranes with embedded CNTs.
- To investigate the influence of CNT concentration, length, and agglomeration on membrane transport properties.
Main Methods:
- Experimental data on Poly(vinyl trimethylsilane) (PVTMS) membranes with embedded CNTs were utilized.
- A model was developed considering parallel mass transfer through the polymer matrix and CNT-bound percolation clusters.
- Numerical simulations were performed to analyze the effects of particle dimensions and concentration.
Main Results:
- The model describes a threshold effect in permeability with increasing CNT concentration, showing an initial increase followed by a decrease.
- Increased CNT length reduces percolation concentration but also the power of the percolation cluster.
- Higher CNT concentrations promote agglomeration, altering the characteristic size of percolation cluster elements and influencing the overall transport.
Conclusions:
- The proposed model successfully explains the complex permeability behavior of CNT-polymer composite membranes.
- Membrane performance is significantly influenced by CNT characteristics (length, concentration) and their spatial arrangement (agglomeration).
- Understanding these factors is crucial for designing advanced membranes with tailored transport properties.
