After listening to Dr. Mauter’s presentation the presenters formulated the following questions for the class to discuss.

1)   Define nanotechnology as succinctly as possible.

The manipulation of material on the nanoscale.

2)   What is the main property of nano-materials makes them excellent sorptive materials?

Their high (surface area)/(Volume) ratio

3)   What benefits are there to using nanomaterial’s in membranes?

Carbon based nanomaterial’s can increase ion rejection while maintaining high water flux. This is due to their hydrophobic nature, directed anisotropy, size selectivity, and the chemical manipulation that can be done to them.

4)   How can nano-particles be attached to membranes?

By oxidizing the membrane surface and covalently attaching silver.

5)   How can nano-tube membranes be created?

Either by making and backfilling (Pro: high density Con:poor manipulation ability) or by using Dr. Mauter’s method of magnetic alignment described here. “Magnetically aligned liquid crystalline (LC) mesophases formed by surfactants act as structure-directing templates for the alignment of sequestered nanomaterials. The surfactant mesophase is polymerizable, either inherently due to the structure of the surfactant, or via the incorporation of a monomeric species in the formulation of the mesophase. The slow relaxation of lyotropic phases preserves nanomaterial orientation until post-alignment photopolymerization of the system forms the nanocomposite support matrix” (Mauter et al. 2010) 

6)   What are the potential applications of nano-materials to energy production?

Solar energy: fullerene bulk heterojunction donor-acceptor materials are low cost and demonstrate excellent charge separation capabilities and Hydrogen storage: Can store Hydrogen closely bonded to nanotubes so that it takes up less volume. With temperature increase the hydrogen is released.

 Bibliography

1)      Mauter, Meagan S., Menachem Elimelech, and Chinedum O. Osuji. “Nanocomposites of Vertically Aligned Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes by Magnetic Alignment and Polymerization of a Lyotropic Precursor.” ACS Nano (2010): 101018090626039. Print.