APT and Brunel University to develop sorting process for carbon nanotubes

18 June 2011

Your browser does not support inline frames or is currently configured not to display inline frames. Archimedes Polymer Technologies (UK) Ltd and Brunel University, London have secured UK Technology Strategy Board Funding (TSB) to develop a new continuous flow process for separating and sorting commercially available carbon nanotubes and carbon nanomaterials.

Carbon nanomaterials are one of the most commercially relevant classes of nanomaterials, potentially having the broadest range of applications from composites to consumer mass electronics, energy storage, membranes, healthcare and toxicity assessments. For high-value applications, high-purity and uniform carbon nanotubes are essential.

Developing an effective process for the separating and sorting of carbon nanomaterials will offer industry new cost-effective manufacturing techniques, high value-added materials and end-user products.

This project aims to prove the concept and efficiency of a flow process for separation and sorting of carbon nanotube products using a variable force field generated by a novel centrifuge, providing continuous parameter controlled, highly efficient mixing, separation and extraction.

Dr Wenhui Song, from Brunel's Wolfson Centre for Materials Processing, explains the challenges that this process will address:
"Most commercial products inevitably consist of nanotubes in a range of sizes and contaminated by-products. The size-shape-chirality polydispersity and purity of the nanotubes is a major technical barrier limited their potential application in high-value markets. Another major commercial barrier is significant concerns about the potential asbestos-like toxicity of high-aspect ratio nanostructures, which will be combated by this novel technique."

Chris Price, Managing Director of APT said: "We are delighted to lead this research project and provide carbon nanotubes and other nanomaterials for novel processing. This will be the start of a long-term relationship with Brunel University that will ultimately benefit the healthcare market through nano-biosensors and nano-medicine development."

The project will be lead by Dr. Wenhui Song at Brunel's Wolfson Centre for Materials Processing, in collaboration with Archimedes Polymer Technologies (UK Ltd) and Dr. Svetlana Ignatova and Prof. Ian Sutherland from the Advanced Bioprocessing Centre at Brunel University.