US Patent 7211320 - CNT sieve

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7211320.html

This patent proposes using carbon nanotubes for desalination/sterilization purposes by intentionally causing defects in the carbon rings to more easily separate contaminates from fluids. Claim 1 reads:


1. A material for reducing contaminants in a fluid, said material comprising: carbon nanotubes, and a porous support medium for said carbon nanotubes, said porous support medium being permeable to the flow of said fluid, wherein a plurality of said carbon nanotubes comprise: a lattice distortion, at least one functional group, and are fused or bonded to said porous support medium, to another carbon nanotube, or to a combination thereof.