Hysteresis of sorption isotherm of multiwall carbon nanotube in paraxylene

The sorption isotherm of a multiwall carbon nanotube in paraxylene is investigated through a pressure induced infiltration experiment. The inner space of the carbon nanotubes can be occupied by liquid molecules when an external pressure is applied so that the energy barrier caused by the lyophobic surface is overcome. The infiltration-defiltration curve is highly hysteretic, and therefore a significant amount of energy is dissipated in each loading-unloading cycle. The system performance is stable as the loading is applied repeatedly.