Titanium dioxide, single-walled carbon nanotube composites
AssigneeNorthwestern University
InventorsYuan Yao, Gonghu Li, Kimberly Gray, Richard M Lueptow
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Abstract
The present invention provides titanium dioxide/single-walled carbon nanotube composites (TiO2/SWCNTs), articles of manufacture, and methods of making and using such composites. In certain embodiments, the present invention provides membrane filters and ceramic articles that are coated with TiO2/SWCNT composite material. In other embodiments, the present invention provides methods of using TiO2/SWCNT composite material to purify a sample, such as a water or air sample.
Claims19
A composition comprising:
- a composite material comprising TiO2 particles and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), wherein said SWCNTs decorate, bridge between, and are interwoven among said TiO2 particles in said composite material, and wherein said TiO2 particles have an average diameter between 120 and 140 nm.
A method of making a chemically reactive TiO2/SWCNT composite comprising:
- a) dispersing single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) in water to generate a suspension;
- b) mixing TiO2 particles into said suspension, wherein said TiO7 particles have an average diameter between 120 and 140 nm;
- c) treating said suspension under conditions such that a dehydrated suspension is generated;
- and
- d) drying said dehydrated suspension under conditions such that a chemically reactive TiO2/SWCNT composite is generated, wherein said SWCNTs decorate, bridge between, and are interwoven among said TiO2 particles in said chemically reactive TiO2/SWCNT composite.
Method of treating a substrate comprising;
- a) providing a composite material comprising TiO2 particles and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), wherein said SWCNTs decorate, bridge between, and are interwoven among said TiO2 particles in said composite material, and wherein said TiO2 particles have an average diameter between 120 and 140 nm;
- b) contacting said composite material with a substrate comprising organic contaminants;
- and
- c) activating said composite material under conditions such that at least a portion of said organic contaminants in said substrate are altered.
Method of reducing fouling of an article comprising;
- a) providing an article subject to biological fouling, wherein said article comprises a composite material comprising TiO2 particles and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), wherein said SWCNTs decorate, bridge between, and are interwoven among said TiO2 particles in said composite material, and wherein said TiO2 particles have an average diameter between 120 and 140 nm;
- b) contacting said article with a substrate comprising biological contaminants;
- and
- c) photoactivating said composite material under conditions such that at least a portion of said biological contaminants in said substrate are altered, thereby reducing or preventing fouling of said article.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.