1. Could you explain the significance of your article to the non-specialist? 

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are known to have high thermal/mechanical stability, and surface area. They have the potential to be high performance separation media that utilize nanoscale interactions, which could potentially lead to the fabrication of highly efficient systems. 

Most efforts have gone into assembling CNTs in small objects/devices. The significance of this work is that the single walled nanotubes have been self-assembled in a large structure. This opens the door to large scale applications in chemical separations and processing. The example shown here is one for the development of gas chromatography columns. This clearly demonstrates the potential. 

Hundreds of tons of activated and other forms of carbon are extensively used in chemical industry. It is envisioned that ability to fabricate nanotube coated structures will eventually replace other carbon materials in many industrial-scale applications.

 

2. What has motivated you to conduct this work? 

There is always a need for highly stable sorbents for a variety of industrial applications. This material was expected to provide high sorption capacity and separation efficiency, and also has the potential for high temperature operations. That is what this study proved. This will lead to smaller and more energy efficient devices.

 

3. Where do you see this work developing in the future? 

In future there will be developments in the area of a variety of gas-purification, chemical separations, air pollution control, and water treatment. Cost effective methods for synthesizing nanotubes and fabricating nanotube coated structures would also be an important area.

 

4. Are there any particular challenges facing future research in this area?

I don't see any serious challenges. I think it is time work out the applications.