Patent ID: 9738984
Date: 2017-08-22
CPC Classifications: B01D,B82Y,C25D

Claim:
1. A method for providing a functionalized membrane, the method comprising: preparing a nanotube composite polymeric membrane having a plurality of pores exhibiting a first average pore size in a range from about 100 nm to about 200 nm by casting a first solution comprising a polymer and dispersed conductive carbon nanotubes, the first average pore size collectively defined by a porous support having the cast polymer and the dispersed conductive carbon nanotubes bound thereto; preparing a second solution comprising one or more electrochemically active compounds, wherein the one or more electrochemically active compounds comprise at least one organic functional group having at least one nanoparticle bonded thereto; and selectively customizing the nanotube composite polymeric membrane by electrochemically depositing the one or more electrochemically active compounds on a surface of the nanotube composite polymeric membrane to cause the nanotube composite polymeric membrane to exhibit a second average pore size of about 5% to about 50% of the first average pore size, wherein the one or more electrochemically active compounds are deposited on the polymer and the dispersed conductive carbon nanotubes comprising the surface of the nanotube composite polymeric membrane, to provide a functionalized nanotube composite polymeric membrane.