Carbon Nanofibers Provide a Cationic Rectifier Material:: Specific Electrolyte Effects, Bipolar Reactivity, and Prospect for Desalination

Frank Marken; Luthando Tshwenya; Omotayo Arotiba

doi:10.1002/celc.201900546

Carbon Nanofibers Provide a Cationic Rectifier Material: Specific Electrolyte Effects, Bipolar Reactivity, and Prospect for Desalination

Frank Marken, Luthando Tshwenya, Omotayo Arotiba

University of Johannesburg

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

9 Citations (SciVal)

73 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

We demonstrate that ionic current rectification effects are observed with a film of negatively charged carbon nanofibers (CNFs) deposited as a film or mat onto a 10 μm diameter microhole in poly-ethylene-terephthalate (PET). CNFs are synthesized by using a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method, followed by oxidation with hydrogen peroxide to introduce carboxyl moieties (providing negative surface charges). CNFs are characterized with transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, elemental analysis, and zeta potential measurements. When drop-dried asymmetrically onto a 10 μm diameter cylindrical channel on a 6 μm thick PET substrate and placed as a membrane between two electrolyte compartments, ionic current rectification is observed. Effects of pH, ionic strength, and nature of electrolyte are investigated. Bipolar reactivity of iodide is demonstrated. Potential for future applications in water purification are discussed.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	3145-3153
Number of pages	9
Journal	ChemElectroChem
Volume	6
Issue number	12
Early online date	30 May 2019
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/celc.201900546
Publication status	Published - 14 Jun 2019

Keywords

carbon nanofibers
desalination
ionic rectifiers
membranes
voltammetry

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Catalysis
Electrochemistry

Access to Document

10.1002/celc.201900546

CNF_diode_Manuscript_1_April_2019_ChemelectroChem_accepted (1).PDF
This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Tshwenya, L. , Marken, F. and Arotiba, O. . (2019), Carbon Nanofibers Provide a Cationic Rectifier Material: Specific Electrolyte Effects, Bipolar Reactivity, and Prospect for Desalination. ChemElectroChem. Accepted Author Manuscript, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1002/celc.201900546. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.
Accepted author manuscript, 2.58 MB

Cite this

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