Preparation and physico/chemical characterization of composite cation exchange membranes filled with carbon nanotubes and carbon nanotubes-co-copper nanolayer composite nanoparticles

In this study, polyvinyl chloride based heterogeneous cation exchange membranes were prepared by solution casting techniques using tetrahydrofuran as solvent and cation exchange resin powder as functional groups agent. The effect of functionalized multi walled carbon nano tubes and also Cu nanolayer coated MWCNTs composite nanoparticles on physico/chemical properties of membranes was studied. The Cu nanolayer coated MWCNTs composite nanoparticles were prepared by magnetron sputtering method. Scanning electron microscopy and scanning optical microscopy were utilized to investigation of membranes’ structural properties. The images showed uniform particles distribution for the membranes. Also the electrochemical characteristics of membrane were studied. The results revealed that membrane transport number, selectivity and flux were improved by using both nanoparticles in membrane matrix. Also the modified membrane containing Cu nanolayer coated Multi Walled Carbon Nano Tubes showed higher selectivity and ionic flux compared to membrane containing MWCNTs and un-modified membrane.