Interfaces Based on Carbon Nanotubes, Ionic Liquids and Polymer Matrices for Sensing and Membrane Separation Applications

Abstract

Th e combination of carbon nanotubes with widely tunable materials such as ionic liquids and polymers theoretically provides a tremendous degree of freedom for designing thin fi lms (membranes) for specifi c sensing and separation applications. Not surprisingly, a plethora of applications has been reported in literature primarily for sensing devices. Th is chapter discusses some selected case studies which illustrate, on one hand, the exciting new opportunities which a combination of these materials off er; on the other, it stresses the strong need for evaluating their potential in the context of existing devices such as to appreciate their true benefi t.