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Li S, Zhang X, Su J. Enhanced Rectification Performance in Bipolar Janus Graphene Oxide Channels by Lateral Electric Fields. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2024; 40:5488-5498. [PMID: 38423602 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.4c00021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Improving the ionic rectification in nanochannels enables versatile applications such as biosensors, energy harvesting, and fluidic diodes. While previous work mostly focused on the effect of channel geometry and surface charge, in this work via a series of molecular dynamics simulations, we find a striking phenomenon that the ionic current rectification (ICR) ratio in Janus graphene oxide (GO) channels can be tremendously promoted by lateral electric fields. First, under a given axial electric field, an additional lateral electric field can improve the ICR ratio by several times to an order, depending on the channel symmetry. The symmetric channel has an obviously greater ICR ratio because it maintains a more pronounced ion transport disparity at opposite axial fields. The underlying mechanism for the function of the lateral electric field is that it promotes the lateral migration of ions and thus amplifies the ion-residue electrostatic interaction at opposite axial fields, enlarging the ion dynamical difference. Furthermore, for different axial electric fields, the ICR ratio can always be improved by lateral electric fields (up to two orders), suggesting that the ICR improvement is universal. Our results demonstrate that applying a lateral electric field could be a new method to improve the rectification performance of nanochannels, providing valuable guidance for the design of efficient ionic diode devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Li
- MIIT Key Laboratory of Semiconductor Microstructure and Quantum Sensing and Department of Applied Physics, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China
| | - Xinke Zhang
- MIIT Key Laboratory of Semiconductor Microstructure and Quantum Sensing and Department of Applied Physics, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China
| | - Jiaye Su
- MIIT Key Laboratory of Semiconductor Microstructure and Quantum Sensing and Department of Applied Physics, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China
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Fan K, Zhou S, Xie L, Jia S, Zhao L, Liu X, Liang K, Jiang L, Kong B. Interfacial Assembly of 2D Graphene-Derived Ion Channels for Water-Based Green Energy Conversion. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2307849. [PMID: 37873917 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202307849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
The utilization of sustained and green energy is believed to alleviate increasing menace of global environmental concerns and energy dilemma. Interfacial assembly of 2D graphene-derived ion channels (2D-GDICs) with tunable ion/fluid transport behavior enables efficient harvesting of renewable green energy from ubiquitous water, especially for osmotic energy harvesting. In this review, various interfacial assembly strategies for fabricating diverse 2D-GDICs are summarized and their ion transport properties are discussed. This review analyzes how particular structure and charge density/distribution of 2D-GDIC can be modulated to minimize internal resistance of ion/fluid transport and enhance energy conversion efficiency, and highlights stimuli-responsive functions and stability of 2D-GDIC and further examines the possibility of integrating 2D-GDIC with other energy conversion systems. Notably, the presented preparation and applications of 2D-GDIC also inspire and guide other 2D materials to fabricate sophisticated ion channels for targeted applications. Finally, potential challenges in this field is analyzed and a prospect to future developments toward high-performance or large-scale real-word applications is offered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Fan
- College of Electrical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, P. R. China
| | - Shan Zhou
- Department of Chemistry, Shanghai Key Lab of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, P. R. China
| | - Lei Xie
- Department of Chemistry, Shanghai Key Lab of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, P. R. China
| | - Shenli Jia
- College of Electrical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, P. R. China
| | - Lihua Zhao
- College of Electrical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, P. R. China
| | - Xiangyang Liu
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Material and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, P. R. China
| | - Kang Liang
- School of Chemical Engineering and Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, 2052, Australia
| | - Lei Jiang
- Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, P. R. China
| | - Biao Kong
- Department of Chemistry, Shanghai Key Lab of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, P. R. China
- Shandong Research Institute, Fudan University, Shandong, 250103, China
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Li S, Zhang X, Su J. Surface charge density governs the ionic current rectification direction in asymmetric graphene oxide channels. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2023; 25:7477-7486. [PMID: 36852635 DOI: 10.1039/d2cp05137k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Abstract
Charged asymmetric channels are extensively investigated for the design of artificial biological channels, ionic diodes, artificial separation films, etc. These applications are attributed to the unique ionic current rectification phenomenon, where the surface charge density of the channel has a deep influence. In this work, we use molecular dynamics simulations to study the rectification phenomenon in asymmetric graphene oxide channels. A fascinating finding is that the ionic current rectification direction reverses from the negative to positive electric field direction with an increase in surface charge density. Specifically, at low charge density, the ionic flux reaches greater values in the negative electric field due to the enrichment of cations and anions, which provides a sufficient electrostatic shielding effect inside the channel and increases the possibility of ion release by the residues. However, at high charge density, the extremely strong residue attraction induces a Coulomb blockade effect in the negative electric field, which seriously impedes the ion transport and eventually leads to a smaller ionic current. Consequently, this ionic current order transition ultimately results in the rectification reversion phenomenon, providing a new route for the design of some novel nanofluidic devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Li
- MIIT Key Laboratory of Semiconductor Microstructure and Quantum Sensing, and Department of Applied Physics, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China.
| | - Xinke Zhang
- MIIT Key Laboratory of Semiconductor Microstructure and Quantum Sensing, and Department of Applied Physics, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China.
| | - Jiaye Su
- MIIT Key Laboratory of Semiconductor Microstructure and Quantum Sensing, and Department of Applied Physics, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China.
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Zhang X, Li S, Su J. Enhanced Ion Rejection in Carbon Nanotubes by a Lateral Electric Field. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2022; 38:10065-10074. [PMID: 35921520 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c01780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Reverse osmosis membranes hold great promise for dealing with global water scarcity. However, the trade-off between ion selectivity and water permeability is a serious obstacle to desalination. Herein, we introduce an effective strategy to enhance the desalination performance of the membrane. A series of molecular dynamics simulations manifest that an additional lateral electric field significantly promotes ion rejection in carbon nanotubes (CNTs) under the drive of longitudinal pressure. Specifically, with the increase in the electric field, the ion flux shows a deep linear decay, while the water flux decreases only slightly, resulting in a linear increase in ion rejection. The energy barriers of ions around the CNT inlet are obtained by calculating the potentials of mean force to explain enhanced ion rejection. The lateral electric field uniformly raises the energy barriers of ions by pushing them away from the CNT inlet, corresponding to the enhanced ion velocity in the field direction. Furthermore, with the increase in CNT diameter, there is a significant increase in the flux of both ions and water; however, the lateral electric field can also obviously enhance the ion rejection in wider CNTs. Consequently, the enhancement of ion rejection by lateral electric fields should be universal for different CNT diameters, which opens a new avenue for selective permeation and may have broad implications for desalination devices with large pore sizes.
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Li S, Zhang X, Liu Y, Su J. Asymmetric transport and desalination in graphene channels. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2022; 24:13245-13255. [DOI: 10.1039/d2cp00025c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
An asymmetric desalination phenomenon occurs in graphene channels with different geometries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Li
- Department of Applied Physics, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210094, China
| | - Xinke Zhang
- Department of Applied Physics, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210094, China
| | - Yuzhen Liu
- Department of Applied Physics, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210094, China
| | - Jiaye Su
- Department of Applied Physics, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210094, China
- MIIT Key Laboratory of Semiconductor Microstructure and Quantum Sensing, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210094, China
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