Abstract: Two-dimensional material based filters, their method of manufacture, and their use are disclosed. In one embodiment, a membrane may include an active layer including a plurality of defects and a deposited material associated with the plurality of defects may reduce flow therethrough. Additionally, a majority of the active layer may be free from the material. In another embodiment, a membrane may include a porous substrate and an atomic layer deposited material disposed on a surface of the porous substrate. The atomic layer deposited material may be less hydrophilic than the porous substrate and an atomically thin active layer may be disposed on the atomic layer deposited material.

Abstract: A nanofluid composed of a base fluid and a solid nanocomposite particle, where the solid nanocomposite particle consists of a carbon nanotube and a metal oxide nanoparticle selected from the group consisting of Fe2O3, Al2O3, and CuO. The metal oxide nanoparticle is affixed inside of or to the outer surface of the carbon nanotube, and the solid nanocomposite particle is homogeneously dispersed in the base fluid. The heat transfer and specific heat capacity properties of the nanofluid are measured using differential scanning calorimetry and heat exchanger experiments with different nanocomposite concentrations and different metal oxide percent loadings.

Abstract: A process for making an iron oxide impregnated carbon nanotube membrane. In this template-free and binder-free process, iron oxide nanoparticles are homogeneously dispersed onto the surface of carbon nanotubes by wet impregnation. The amount of iron oxide nanoparticles loaded on the carbon nanotubes range from 0.25-80% by weight per total weight of the doped carbon nanotubes. The iron oxide doped carbon nanotubes are then pressed to form a carbon nanotube disc which is then sintered at high temperatures to form a mixed matrix membrane of iron oxide nanoparticles homogeneously dispersed across a carbon nanotube matrix. Methods of characterizing porosity, hydrophilicity and fouling potential of the carbon nanotube membrane are also described.

Abstract: A process for making an iron oxide impregnated carbon nanotube membrane. In this template-free and binder-free process, iron oxide nanoparticles are homogeneously dispersed onto the surface of carbon nanotubes by wet impregnation. The amount of iron oxide nanoparticles loaded on the carbon nanotubes range from 0.25-80% by weight per total weight of the doped carbon nanotubes. The iron oxide doped carbon nanotubes are then pressed to forma carbon nanotube disc which is then sintered at high temperatures to form a mixed matrix membrane of iron oxide nanoparticles homogeneously dispersed across a carbon nanotube matrix. Methods of characterizing porosity, hydrophilicity and fouling potential of the carbon nanotube membrane are also described.

Abstract: A process for making an iron oxide impregnated carbon nanotube membrane. In this template-free and binder-free process, iron oxide nanoparticles are homogeneously dispersed onto the surface of carbon nanotubes by wet impregnation. The amount of iron oxide nanoparticles loaded on the carbon nanotubes range from 0.25-80% by weight per total weight of the doped carbon nanotubes. The iron oxide doped carbon nanotubes are then pressed to form a carbon nanotube disc which is then sintered at high temperatures to form a mixed matrix membrane of iron oxide nanoparticles homogeneously dispersed across a carbon nanotube matrix. Methods of characterizing porosity, hydrophilicity and fouling potential of the carbon nanotube membrane are also described.

Abstract: A Ca—SiAlON ceramic with enhanced mechanical properties and a method employing micron-sized and submicron precursors to form the Ca—SiAlON ceramic. The Ca—SiAlON ceramic comprises not more than 42 wt % silicon, relative to the total weight of the Ca—SiAlON ceramic. The method employs submicron particles and also allows for substituting a portion of aluminum nitride with aluminum to form the Ca—SiAlON ceramic with enhanced mechanical properties.

Abstract: A Ca—SiAlON ceramic with enhanced mechanical properties and a method employing micron-sized and submicron precursors to form the Ca—SiAlON ceramic. The Ca—SiAlON ceramic comprises not more than 42 wt % silicon, relative to the total weight of the Ca—SiAlON ceramic. The method employs submicron particles and also allows for substituting a portion of aluminum nitride with aluminum to form the Ca—SiAlON ceramic with enhanced mechanical properties.

Abstract: A desalination cell which works with flat membranes for water purification purposes. A feed fluid is stirred on a feed side of the membrane to minimize cake formation. A purified liquid is formed on the permeate side of the membrane, and a reject fluid formed on the feed side of the membrane. When thick ceramic membranes are used, the desalination cell can be adapted to have a sealing gasket around the circumference of the membrane to prevent the feed fluid from by-passing the membrane and contaminating the purified fluid.

Abstract: A process for making an iron oxide impregnated carbon nanotube membrane. In this template-free and binder-free process, iron oxide nanoparticles are homogeneously dispersed onto the surface of carbon nanotubes by wet impregnation. The amount of iron oxide nanoparticles loaded on the carbon nanotubes range from 0.25-80% by weight per total weight of the doped carbon nanotubes. The iron oxide doped carbon nanotubes are then pressed to form a carbon nanotube disc which is then sintered at high temperatures to form a mixed matrix membrane of iron oxide nanoparticles homogeneously dispersed across a carbon nanotube matrix. Methods of characterizing porosity, hydrophilicity and fouling potential of the carbon nanotube membrane are also described.

Abstract: A nanofluid composed of a base fluid and a solid nanocomposite particle, where the solid nanocomposite particle consists of a carbon nanotube and a metal oxide nanoparticle selected from the group consisting of Fe2O3, Al2O3, and CuO. The metal oxide nanoparticle is affixed inside of or to the outer surface of the carbon nanotube, and the solid nanocomposite particle is homogeneously dispersed in the base fluid. The heat transfer and specific heat capacity properties of the nanofluid are measured using differential scanning calorimetry and heat exchanger experiments with different nanocomposite concentrations and different metal oxide percent loadings.

Abstract: The synthesis of high performance WC-Co cemented carbides which can be efficiently used in the cutting tool industry. WC with different particle sizes and different grain growth inhibitors were consolidated through spark plasma sintering technique and to form a cemented carbide with best combination of mechanical properties. VC and Cr3C2 are included as grain growth inhibitors in different amounts and combination to the WC-Co powder composition. Higher amount of inhibitors results in lower grain sizes and higher hardness values, however adding more than a crucial amount was observed to degrade the mechanical properties.

Abstract: A method for synthesizing a nitrogen-doped carbon electrocatalyst by performing selective catalytic oxidative polymerization of solid aniline salt on a carbon support with a catalytic system containing Fe3+/H2O2 to obtain a mixture, and then heat treating the mixture under a nitrogen atmosphere at 900° C.

Abstract: A method for synthesizing a nitrogen-doped carbon electrocatalyst by performing selective catalytic oxidative polymerization of solid aniline salt on a carbon support with a catalytic system containing Fe3+/H2O2 to obtain a mixture, and then heat treating the mixture under a nitrogen atmosphere at 900° C.

Abstract: The high performance aluminum nanocomposites are formed by a combination of mechanical alloying and Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) in order to obtain reinforced nanostrutured aluminum alloys, The nanocomposites are formed from aluminum metal reinforced with silicon carbide (SiC) particulates, wherein the SiC particulates have a particle diameter between about 20 and 40 nm. The nanocomposites are prepared by mixing aluminum-based metal, e.g., Al-7Si-0.3Mg, (Al=92.7%, Si-7% and Mg=0.3%), with SiC nanoparticles in a conventional mill to form a uniformly distributed powder, which is then sintered at a temperature of about 500° C. for a period up to about 20 hours to consolidate the silicon carbide particulates in order to obtain the reinforced aluminum metal-based silicon carbide nanocomposite.

Abstract: The synthesis of high performance WC—Co cemented carbides which can be efficiently used in the cutting tool industry. WC with different particle sizes and different grain growth inhibitors were consolidated through spark plasma sintering technique and to form a cemented carbide with best combination of mechanical properties. VC and Cr3C2 are included as grain growth inhibitors in different amounts and combination to the WC—Co powder composition. Higher amount of inhibitors results in lower grain sizes and higher hardness values, however adding more than a crucial amount was observed to degrade the mechanical properties.

Abstract: Two-dimensional material based filters, their method of manufacture, and their use are disclosed. In one embodiment, a membrane may include an active layer including a plurality of defects and a deposited material associated with the plurality of defects may reduce flow therethrough. Additionally, a majority of the active layer may be free from the material. In another embodiment, a membrane may include a porous substrate and an atomic layer deposited material disposed on a surface of the porous substrate. The atomic layer deposited material may be less hydrophilic than the porous substrate and an atomically thin active layer may be disposed on the atomic layer deposited material.

Abstract: The method of removing Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria from an aqueous solution includes the step of mixing multi-walled carbon nanotubes functionalized with a dodecylamine group (C12H27N) into an aqueous solution containing E. coli bacteria. The multi-walled carbon nanotubes functionalized with a dodecylamine group have an antimicrobial effect against the E. coli bacteria. The multi-walled carbon nanotubes may be mixed into the aqueous solution at a concentration of between approximately 0.2 g and 0.007 g of multi-walled carbon nanotubes functionalized with a dodecylamine group per 100 ml of the aqueous solution.

Abstract: The method of removing Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria from an aqueous solution includes the step of mixing multi-walled carbon nanotubes functionalized with a dodecylamine group (C12H27N) into an aqueous solution containing E. coli bacteria. The multi-walled carbon nanotubes functionalized with a dodecylamine group have an antimicrobial effect against the E. coli bacteria. The multi-walled carbon nanotubes may be mixed into the aqueous solution at a concentration of between approximately 0.2 g and 0.007 g of multi-walled carbon nanotubes functionalized with a dodecylamine group per 100 ml of the aqueous solution.

Abstract: The method of removing Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria from an aqueous solution includes the step of mixing multi-walled carbon nanotubes into an aqueous solution containing E. coli bacteria. The multi-walled carbon nanotubes have an antimicrobial effect against the E. coli bacteria. The multi-walled carbon nanotubes may be mixed into the aqueous solution at a concentration of approximately 0.002 g of multi-walled carbon nanotubes per 100 ml of the aqueous solution. In order to enhance antimicrobial activity, the multi-walled carbon nanotubes in the solution may be treated with microwave radiation, thus generating heat to further destroy the bacteria. In order to further enhance antimicrobial activity, the multi-walled carbon nanotubes may be functionalized with a carboxylic (COOH) group, functionalized with a phenol (C5H5OH) group, functionalized with a C18 group, such as 1-octadecanol (C18H38O), or may be impregnated with silver nanoparticles.

Abstract: The method of forming encapsulated carbon nanotubes includes first forming a calcium chloride solution and a sodium hydrogen carbonate solution. A volume of carbon nanotubes are added to the calcium chloride solution and the calcium chloride solution and the volume of carbon nanotubes are then mixed with the sodium hydrogen carbonate solution to form a supersaturated calcium carbonate solution. Carbon nanotubes embedded in calcium carbonate crystals are precipitated from the supersaturated calcium carbonate solution. The carbon nanotubes embedded in the calcium carbonate crystals, forming the precipitate, are then filtered from the solution. The filtered carbon nanotubes embedded in the calcium carbonate crystals are washed and then dried, producing a usable volume of carbon nanotubes encapsulated within calcium carbonate crystals.