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• Carbon Nanopipes for Nanofluidic Devices and In-situ Fluid Studies
The processes that govern fluid processes in pipes are well
understood for diameters in the range of micrometers and
above. As the diameters diminish (e.g. in the range of a few
nanometers), the role of surface tension and capillarity is
has been seen to change, as well as their dependence on
material properties. Thus, the expected promise of Carbon
nanotubes in technological applications is in urgent need of a
well-documented basic understanding of such forces, especially
since no consistent experimental data have been collected so
far. The PI has obtained a lot of results in the determination
of the liquid/vapor distribution in nanotubes, interaction of
the fluids with the nanotubes walls as well as the effect of
the hydrothermal treatment on the carbon nanotubes. On that
basis, he offers to develop an experimental program that will
explore as thoroughly as possible the various aspects of phase
interfacing in a number of nanotube situations. The special
case of the newly developed closed nanotubes will be examined.
Fluid behavior, Chemical modification, metallization, and
opening of the nanopipes will be also investigated using
bipolar electrochemistry. Then, the experimental work will be
supplemented by modeling based on parallel molecular dynamics
simulations. Such work should offer a precious set of data for
the elaboration of a model based on precise experimental
observations.
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