Commercially available polycarbonate membranes of radius 10- and 30nm, contain pores that were used to form metal (Au) nanotubules. Using an electroless deposition procedure, metal (Au) was plated onto the pore walls, and the cylindrical Au nanotubules fill the length of the pore. By controlling the deposition time, the inside diameter of the nanotubules can be varied and pores as small as 0.4nm were reported. These membranes display selective cation transport that can be quantitatively expressed by the transference numbers. The transference numbers for the corresponding cations (t+) and anions (t-) can be found through potentiometric experiments using a varying concentration cell. Selectivity occurs because Cl- adsorbs to the Au nanotubules creating an excess negative charge density. So, negatively charged ions are rejected from entering the nanotubule, while cations are transported across. Ideal selectivity happens when the thickness of the electrical double layer (EDL) is large compared to the radius of the nanotubule itself

Au nanotubule plated polycarbonate membranes for the study of cation transference

2019 Spring National Meeting

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