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Carbon nanotubule membranes for electrochemical energy storage and production

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Abstract

Ensembles of aligned and monodisperse tubules of graphitic carbon can be prepared by a templating method1,2,3,4 that involves the chemical-vapour deposition of carbon within the pores of alumina membranes5,6,7. Tubules with diameters as small as 20 nm have been prepared in this way7,8. The carbon comprising these tubules can be transformed from a disordered material to very highly ordered graphite5. Here we show that template-synthesized carbon tubules can be fabricated as free-standing nanoporous carbon membranes, and that narrower, highly ordered graphitic carbon nanotubes can be prepared within the membrane's tubules. Both the outer and the inner tubules are electrochemically active for intercalation of lithium ions, suggesting possible applications in lithium-ion batteries9,10. The membranes can also be filled with nanoparticles of electrocatalytic metals and alloys. Such catalyst-loaded membranes can be used to electrocatalyse O2 reduction and methanol oxidation, two reactions of importance to fuel-cell technology.

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Figure 1: Electron micrographs of tubules and membranes.
Figure 2: Cyclic voltammograms illustrating possible Li-ion battery application of the carbon nanotubule membranes.
Figure 3: Cyclic voltammograms (CVs) of template-synthesized carbon-tubule membranes.
Figure 4: Cyclic voltammograms illustrating electrocatalytic applications of the carbon nanotubule membranes.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the US Department of Energy and the US Office of Naval Research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, 80523, Colorado, USA

    Guangli Che, Brinda B. Lakshmi, Ellen R. Fisher & Charles R. Martin

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  1. Guangli Che
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  2. Brinda B. Lakshmi
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  3. Ellen R. Fisher
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  4. Charles R. Martin
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Correspondence to Charles R. Martin.

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Che, G., Lakshmi, B., Fisher, E. et al. Carbon nanotubule membranes for electrochemical energy storage and production. Nature 393, 346–349 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1038/30694

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/30694

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