title: A three-dimensional carbon nanotube network for water treatment.
abstract: The bulk synthesis of freestanding carbon nanotube (CNT) frameworks is developed through a sulfur-addition strategy during an ambient-pressure chemical vapour deposition process, with ferrocene used as the catalyst precursor. This approach enhances the CNTs' length and contorted morphology, which are the key features leading to the formation of the synthesized porous networks. We demonstrate that such a three-dimensional structure selectively uptakes from water a mass of toxic organic solvent (i.e. o-dichlorobenzene) about 3.5 times higher than that absorbed by individual CNTs. In addition, owing to the presence of highly defective nanostructures constituting them, our samples exhibit an oil-absorption capacity higher than that reported in the literature for similar CNT sponges.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Roma Tor Vergata, via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, I-00133 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Camilli
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pisani
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gautron
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scarselli
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Castrucci
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: D'Orazio
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Passacantando
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Moscone
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Crescenzi
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry; D002722:Chlorobenzenes / Q000032:analysis*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005374:Filtration; D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D009821:Oils / Q000737:chemistry; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000737:chemistry; D016062:Porosity; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman; D013499:Surface Properties; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D002722:Chlorobenzenes; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D009821:Oils; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D012997:Solvents; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D014867:Water; C004726:2-dichlorobenzene; D002244:Carbon; D006108:Graphite