TY - JOUR
T1 - Solving the inverse Knudsen problem
T2 - Gas diffusion in random fibrous media
AU - Szmyt, Wojciech
AU - Guerra-Nuñez, Carlos
AU - Dransfeld, Clemens
AU - Utke, Ivo
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - About a century ago, Knudsen derived the groundbreaking theory of gas diffusion through straight pipes and holes, which since then found widespread application in innumerable fields of science and inspired the development of vacuum and related coating technologies, from academic research to numerous industrial sectors. Knudsen's theory can be straightforwardly applied to filter membranes with arrays of extended holes for example, however, for the inverse geometry arrangement, which arises when solid nanowires or fibers are arranged into porous interwoven material (like in carpets or brushes) the derivation of an analytical theory framework was still missing. In this paper, we have identified the specific geometric and thermodynamic parameters that determine the gas diffusion kinetics in arrays of randomly oriented cylinders and provide a set of analytical expressions allowing to comprehensively describe the gas transport in such structures. We confirmed analytical solutions by Monte Carlo simulations. We specify our findings for an atomic layer deposition process, the diffusion of trimethyaluminium molecules into a carbon nanotube array, but highlight the applicability of our derivation for other fields comprising gas diffusion membranes, composite materials, fuel cells and more.
AB - About a century ago, Knudsen derived the groundbreaking theory of gas diffusion through straight pipes and holes, which since then found widespread application in innumerable fields of science and inspired the development of vacuum and related coating technologies, from academic research to numerous industrial sectors. Knudsen's theory can be straightforwardly applied to filter membranes with arrays of extended holes for example, however, for the inverse geometry arrangement, which arises when solid nanowires or fibers are arranged into porous interwoven material (like in carpets or brushes) the derivation of an analytical theory framework was still missing. In this paper, we have identified the specific geometric and thermodynamic parameters that determine the gas diffusion kinetics in arrays of randomly oriented cylinders and provide a set of analytical expressions allowing to comprehensively describe the gas transport in such structures. We confirmed analytical solutions by Monte Carlo simulations. We specify our findings for an atomic layer deposition process, the diffusion of trimethyaluminium molecules into a carbon nanotube array, but highlight the applicability of our derivation for other fields comprising gas diffusion membranes, composite materials, fuel cells and more.
KW - Fibrous membrane
KW - Gas transport
KW - Knudsen diffusion
KW - Molecular regime
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85093108361&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.memsci.2020.118728
DO - 10.1016/j.memsci.2020.118728
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85093108361
SN - 0376-7388
VL - 620
JO - Journal of Membrane Science
JF - Journal of Membrane Science
M1 - 118728
ER -