Figure 3: Salt removal by UCNT–MCE membranes. | Nature Communications

Figure 3: Salt removal by UCNT–MCE membranes.

From: Carbon nanotube membranes with ultrahigh specific adsorption capacity for water desalination and purification

Figure 3

(a) Conductivity curves for the passage of 3,500 p.p.m. NaCl solutions through the micro-channel device using four membranes: (i) pristine, (ii) acid-modified, (iii) 5-min plasma-modified and (iv) 10-min plasma-modified membranes. Inset in a shows the mass of salt removed by each membrane. (b) Plot of the conductivity of three adsorption–desorption cycles using sample iv at NaCl concentrations of 7,000, 3,500 and 1,700 p.p.m. Inset in b shows the mass of salt removed in each cycle. (c) SEM image of sample i after the adsorption reaches saturation. Scale bar, 1 μm. (d) SEM image of sample iv after the adsorption reaches saturation. More NaCl nanocrystals are observed on sample iv. Scale bar, 1 μm. (e) TEM image of scattered NaCl nanocrystals in sample iv. Scale bar, 20 nm. Inset in e shows the crystal lattice of NaCl NPs embedded in the UCNT networks. Scale bar, 1 nm.

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