1
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Knowles SF, Mackay EKR, Thorneywork AL. Interpreting the power spectral density of a fluctuating colloidal current. J Chem Phys 2024; 161:144905. [PMID: 39387415 DOI: 10.1063/5.0231690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2024] [Accepted: 08/30/2024] [Indexed: 10/15/2024] Open
Abstract
The transport of molecules through biological and synthetic nanopores is governed by multiple stochastic processes that lead to noisy, fluctuating currents. Disentangling the characteristics of different noise-generating mechanisms is central to better understanding molecular transport at a fundamental level but is extremely challenging in molecular systems due to their complexity and relative experimental inaccessibility. Here, we construct a colloidal model microfluidic system for the experimental measurement of particle currents, where the governing physical properties are directly controllable and particle dynamics directly observable, unlike in the molecular case. Currents of hard spheres fluctuate due to the random arrival times of particles into the channel and the distribution of particle speeds within the channel, which results in characteristic scalings in the power spectral density. We rationalize these scalings by quantitatively comparing to a model for shot noise with a finite transit time, extended to include the distribution of particle speeds. Particle velocity distributions sensitively reflect the confining geometry, and we interpret and model these in terms of the underlying fluid flow profiles. Finally, we explore the extent to which details of these distributions govern the form of the resulting power spectral density, thereby establishing concrete links between the power spectral density and underlying mechanisms for this experimental system. This paves the way for establishing a more systematic understanding of the links between characteristics of transport fluctuations and underlying molecular mechanisms in driven systems such as nanopores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stuart F Knowles
- Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, United Kingdom
| | - Eleanor K R Mackay
- Department of Chemistry, Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory, University of Oxford, South Parks Rd., Oxford OX1 3QZ, United Kingdom
| | - Alice L Thorneywork
- Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, United Kingdom
- Department of Chemistry, Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory, University of Oxford, South Parks Rd., Oxford OX1 3QZ, United Kingdom
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2
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Li G, Peng X, Yu L, Wang D, Zhao H, Chen Q, Zhao J, Zhou K, Xue Y. Nanofluidic Thermoelectric Transducer with Ultrahigh and Tunable Sensitivity. J Phys Chem Lett 2024; 15:9863-9870. [PMID: 39301755 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.4c02370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/22/2024]
Abstract
Thermosensitive transient receptor potential (thermoTRP) ion channels can transduce external thermal stimuli to neural electrical signals, allowing organisms to detect and respond to changes in environmental temperature. Reproducing such ionic machinery holds promise for advancing the design of highly efficient low-grade thermal energy harvesters and ultrasensitive thermal sensors. However, there still exist challenges for artificial nanofluidic architectures to achieve comparable thermoelectric performance. Here, we report nanofluidic thermoelectric transducers with ultrahigh and tunable sensitivities controlled by electrostatic gating in graphene nanochannels. The equivalent Seebeck coefficient can be significantly boosted and reaches 1 order of magnitude higher than the current state of the art, even beyond thermoTRP ion channels. The improvement is attributed to substantial slippage on the highly charged graphene surface, leading to enhanced electrokinetic ion transport inside the graphene channel, which is confirmed by a scaling theory for thermoelectric coupling as well as molecular dynamic simulations. The dependence of the nanofluidic thermoelectric on the concentration, channel size, and cation types is also investigated to further clarify the underlying mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guobin Li
- Department of Mechanics and Aerospace Engineering & Center for Complex Flows and Soft Matter Research, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Xin Peng
- Department of Mechanics and Aerospace Engineering & Center for Complex Flows and Soft Matter Research, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Lingfeng Yu
- Department of Mechanics and Aerospace Engineering & Center for Complex Flows and Soft Matter Research, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Di Wang
- Department of Mechanics and Aerospace Engineering & Center for Complex Flows and Soft Matter Research, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - He Zhao
- Department of Mechanics and Aerospace Engineering & Center for Complex Flows and Soft Matter Research, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Qiang Chen
- Department of Mechanics and Aerospace Engineering & Center for Complex Flows and Soft Matter Research, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Jiduo Zhao
- Department of Mechanics and Aerospace Engineering & Center for Complex Flows and Soft Matter Research, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Ke Zhou
- College of Energy, Soochow Institute for Energy and Materials Innovations (SIEMIS), Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
| | - Yahui Xue
- Department of Mechanics and Aerospace Engineering & Center for Complex Flows and Soft Matter Research, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
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3
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Wang CW, Kuo YW, Zeng JR, Tang PH, Wu TM. Confinement Effects on Reorientation Dynamics of Water Confined within Graphite Nanoslits. J Phys Chem B 2024; 128:9525-9535. [PMID: 39307993 PMCID: PMC11457136 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.4c03898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2024] [Revised: 09/04/2024] [Accepted: 09/04/2024] [Indexed: 10/04/2024]
Abstract
Molecular dynamics simulations were used to investigate the reorientation dynamics of water confined within graphite nanoslits of size less than 2 nm, where molecules formed inner and interfacial layers parallel to the confining walls. Significantly related to molecular reorientations, the hydrogen-bond (HB) network of nanoconfined water therein was scrutinized by HB configuration fractions compared to those of bulk water and the influences on interfacial-molecule orientations relative to a nearby C atom plate. The second-rank orientation time correlation functions (OTCFs) of nanoconfined water were calculated and found to follow stretched-exponential, power-law, and power-law decays in a time series. To understand this naïve behavior of reorientation relaxation, the approach of statistical mechanics was adopted in our studies. In terms of the orientation Van Hove function (OVHF), an alternative meaning was given to the second-rank OTCF, which is a measure of the deviation of the OVHF between a molecular system and free molecules in random orientations. Indicated by the OVHFs at related time scales, the stretched-exponential decay of the second-rank OTCF resulted from molecules evacuating out of HB cages formed by their neighbors. After the evacuations, the inner molecules relaxed at relatively fast rates toward random orientations, but the interfacial molecules reoriented at slow rates due to restrictions by hydrophobic interactions with graphite walls. The first power-law decay of the second-rank OTCF was attributed to the distinct relaxation rates of inner and interfacial molecules within a graphite nanoslit. When the inner molecules were completely random in orientation, the second-rank OTCFs changed to another power law decay with a power smaller than the first one.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi-Wei Wang
- Institute of Physics, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Wei Kuo
- Institute of Physics, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan
| | - Jing-Rong Zeng
- Institute of Physics, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan
| | | | - Ten-Ming Wu
- Institute of Physics, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan
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4
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Bilichenko M, Iannuzzi M, Tocci G. Slip Opacity and Fast Osmotic Transport of Hydrophobes at Aqueous Interfaces with Two-Dimensional Materials. ACS NANO 2024; 18:24118-24127. [PMID: 39172927 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.4c05118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/24/2024]
Abstract
We investigate the interfacial transport of water and hydrophobic solutes on van der Waals bilayers and heterostructures formed by stacking graphene, hBN, and MoS2 using extensive ab initio molecular dynamics simulations. We compute water slippage and the diffusio-osmotic transport coefficient of hydrophobic particles at the interface by combining hydrodynamics and the theory of the hydrophobic effect. We find that slippage is dominated by the layer that is in direct contact with water and only marginally altered by the second layer, leading to a so-called "slip opacity". The screening of the lateral forces, where the liquid does not feel the forces coming from the second nearest layer, is one of the factors leading to the "slip opacity" in our systems. The diffusio-osmotic transport of small hydrophobes (with a radius below 2.5 Å) is also affected by the slip opacity, being dramatically enhanced by slippage. Furthermore, the direction of diffusio-osmotic flow is controlled by the solute size, with the flow in the opposite direction of the concentration gradient for smaller hydrophobes, and vice versa for larger ones. We connect our findings to the wetting properties of two-dimensional materials, and we propose that slippage and wetting can be controlled separately: whereas the slippage is mostly determined by the layer in closer proximity to water, wetting can be finely tuned by stacking different two-dimensional materials. Our study advances the computational design of two-dimensional materials and van der Waals heterostructures, enabling precise control over wetting and slippage properties for applications in coatings and water purification membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Bilichenko
- Department of Chemistry, Universität Zürich, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Marcella Iannuzzi
- Department of Chemistry, Universität Zürich, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Gabriele Tocci
- Department of Chemistry, Universität Zürich, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
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5
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Yang Y, Zhao WL, Liu Y, Wang Q, Song Z, Zhuang Q, Chen W, Song YF. Polyoxometalate Clusters Confined in Reduced Graphene Oxide Membranes for Effective Ion Sieving and Desalination. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2402018. [PMID: 38887207 PMCID: PMC11422814 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202402018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Efficient 2D membranes play a critical role in water purification and desalination. However, most 2D membranes, such as graphene oxide (GO) membranes, tend to swell or disintegrate in liquid, making precise ionic sieving a tough challenge. Herein, the fabrication of the polyoxometalate clusters (PW12) intercalated reduced graphene oxide (rGO) membrane (rGO-PW12) is reported through a polyoxometalate-assisted in situ photoreduction strategy. The intercalated PW12 result in the interlayer spacing in the sub-nanometer scale and induce a nanoconfinement effect to repel the ions in various salt solutions. The permeation rate of rGO-PW12 membranes are about two orders of magnitude lower than those through the GO membrane. The confinement of nanochannels also generate the excellent non-swelling stability of rGO-PW12 membranes in aqueous solutions up to 400 h. Moreover, when applied in forward osmosis, the rGO-PW12 membranes with a thickness of 90 nm not only exhibit a high-water permeance of up to 0.11790 L m-2 h-1 bar-1 and high NaCl rejection (98.3%), but also reveal an ultrahigh water/salt selectivity of 4740. Such significantly improved ion-exclusion ability and high-water flux benefit from the multi-interactions and nanoconfinement effect between PW12 and rGO nanosheets, which afford a well-interlinked lamellar structure via hydrogen bonding and van der Waals interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yixin Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, P. R. China
| | - Wan-Lei Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, P. R. China
| | - Yubing Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, P. R. China
| | - Qin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, P. R. China
| | - Ziheng Song
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, P. R. China
| | - Qinghe Zhuang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, P. R. China
| | - Wei Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, P. R. China
- Quzhou Institute for Innovation in Resource Chemical Engineering, Quzhou, Zhejiang, 324000, P. R. China
| | - Yu-Fei Song
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, P. R. China
- Quzhou Institute for Innovation in Resource Chemical Engineering, Quzhou, Zhejiang, 324000, P. R. China
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6
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Chu T, Zhou Z, Tian P, Yu T, Lian C, Zhang B, Xuan FZ. Nanofluidic sensing inspired by the anomalous water dynamics in electrical angstrom-scale channels. Nat Commun 2024; 15:7329. [PMID: 39187549 PMCID: PMC11347597 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51877-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 08/16/2024] [Indexed: 08/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Manipulation of confined water dynamics by voltage keeps great importance for diverse applications. However, limitations on the membrane functions, voltage-control range, and unclear dynamics need to be addressed. Herein, we report an anomalous electrically controlled gating phenomenon on cation-intercalated multi-layer Ti3C2 membranes and reveal the confined water dynamics. The water permeation rate was improved rapidly following the application and rise of voltage and finally reached a maximum rate at 0.9 V. The permeation rate starts to decrease from 0.9 V. Below 0.9 V, the electric field affects the charge and polarity of water molecules and then leads to ordered and denser rearrangement in the two-dimensional (2D) channel to accelerate the permeation rate. Above 0.9 V, with the assistance of metal cations, the surge in current induced aggregation of water molecules into clusters, thereby limiting the water mobility. Based on these findings, a high-performance humidity sensor was developed by simultaneously optimizing the response and recovery speeds through electric manipulation. This work provides flexible strategies in intelligent membrane design and nanofluidic sensing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianshu Chu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Intelligent Sensing and Detection Technology, Shanghai, PR China
- School of Mechanical and Power Engineering and, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, PR China
- Key Laboratory of Pressure Systems and Safety of Ministry of Education, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Ze Zhou
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Intelligent Sensing and Detection Technology, Shanghai, PR China
- School of Mechanical and Power Engineering and, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, PR China
- Key Laboratory of Pressure Systems and Safety of Ministry of Education, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Pengfei Tian
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Intelligent Sensing and Detection Technology, Shanghai, PR China
- School of Mechanical and Power Engineering and, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, PR China
- Key Laboratory of Pressure Systems and Safety of Ministry of Education, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Tingting Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Hierarchical Nanomaterials, School of Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Cheng Lian
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Hierarchical Nanomaterials, School of Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Bowei Zhang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Intelligent Sensing and Detection Technology, Shanghai, PR China.
- School of Mechanical and Power Engineering and, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, PR China.
- Key Laboratory of Pressure Systems and Safety of Ministry of Education, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, PR China.
| | - Fu-Zhen Xuan
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Intelligent Sensing and Detection Technology, Shanghai, PR China.
- School of Mechanical and Power Engineering and, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, PR China.
- Key Laboratory of Pressure Systems and Safety of Ministry of Education, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, PR China.
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7
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Ding Z, Gu T, Zhang M, Wang K, Sun D, Li J. Angstrom-Scale 2D Channels Designed For Osmotic Energy Harvesting. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024:e2403593. [PMID: 39180252 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202403593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2024] [Revised: 07/04/2024] [Indexed: 08/26/2024]
Abstract
Confronting the impending exhaustion of traditional energy, it is urgent to devise and deploy sustainable clean energy alternatives. Osmotic energy contained in the salinity gradient of the sea-river interface is an innovative, abundant, clean, and renewable osmotic energy that has garnered considerable attention in recent years. Inspired by the impressively intelligent ion channels in nature, the developed angstrom-scale 2D channels with simple fabrication process, outstanding design flexibility, and substantial charge density exhibit excellent energy conversion performance, opening up a new era for osmotic energy harvesting. However, this attractive research field remains fraught with numerous challenges, particularly due to the complexities associated with the regulation at angstrom scale. In this review, the latest advancements in the design of angstrom-scale 2D channels are primarily outlined for harvesting osmotic energy. Drawing upon the analytical framework of osmotic power generation mechanisms and the insights gleaned from the biomimetic intelligent devices, the design strategies are highlighted for high-performance angstrom channels in terms of structure, functionalization, and application, with a particular emphasis on ion selectivity and ion transport resistance. Finally, current challenges and future prospects are discussed to anticipate the emergence of more anomalous properties and disruptive technologies that can promote large-scale power generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengmao Ding
- Pen-Tung Sah Institute of Micro-Nano Science and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, P. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Tribology in Advanced Equipment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, P. R. China
| | - Tiancheng Gu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, P. R. China
| | - Minghao Zhang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, P. R. China
| | - Kaiqiang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Tribology in Advanced Equipment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, P. R. China
| | - Daoheng Sun
- Pen-Tung Sah Institute of Micro-Nano Science and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, P. R. China
| | - Jinjin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Tribology in Advanced Equipment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, P. R. China
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8
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Xu K, Pagliero D, López-Morales GI, Flick J, Wolcott A, Meriles CA. Photoinduced Charge Injection from Shallow Point Defects in Diamond into Water. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:37226-37233. [PMID: 38976775 PMCID: PMC11261567 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c06298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2024] [Revised: 06/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Thanks to its low or negative surface electron affinity and chemical inertness, diamond is attracting broad attention as a source material of solvated electrons produced by optical excitation of the solid-liquid interface. Unfortunately, its wide bandgap typically imposes the use of wavelengths in the ultraviolet range, hence complicating practical applications. Here, we probe the photocurrent response of water surrounded by single-crystal diamond surfaces engineered to host shallow nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers. We observe clear signatures of diamond-induced photocurrent generation throughout the visible range and for wavelengths reaching up to 594 nm. Experiments as a function of laser power suggest that NV centers and other coexisting defects─likely in the form of surface traps─contribute to carrier injection, though we find that NVs dominate the system response in the limit of high illumination intensities. Given our growing understanding of near-surface NV centers and adjacent point defects, these results open new perspectives in the application of diamond-liquid interfaces to photocarrier-initiated chemical and spin processes in fluids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kang Xu
- Department
of Physics, CUNY-City College of New York, New York, New York 10031, United States
| | - Daniela Pagliero
- Department
of Physics, CUNY-City College of New York, New York, New York 10031, United States
| | | | - Johannes Flick
- Department
of Physics, CUNY-City College of New York, New York, New York 10031, United States
- CUNY-The
Graduate Center, New York, New York 10016, United States
- Center
for Computational Quantum Physics, Flatiron
Institute, New York, New York 10010, United States
| | - Abraham Wolcott
- Department
of Physics, CUNY-City College of New York, New York, New York 10031, United States
- Department
of Chemistry, San José State University, San José, California 95192, United States
| | - Carlos A. Meriles
- Department
of Physics, CUNY-City College of New York, New York, New York 10031, United States
- CUNY-The
Graduate Center, New York, New York 10016, United States
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9
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Chakraborty R, Crawford-Eng HT, Leburton JP. Asymmetric ion transport through "Janus" MoSSe sub-nanometer pores. NANOSCALE 2024; 16:13106-13120. [PMID: 38912547 DOI: 10.1039/d4nr00589a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/25/2024]
Abstract
We conduct all-atom molecular dynamics simulations to systematically investigate the underlying mechanisms governing ion transport through a sub-nanometer pore decorated with negative charges in a "Janus" MoSSe membrane. The charge imbalance between S and Se atoms on each side of the membrane induces different types of ion adsorption processes depending on the pore inner charge configuration, and the polarity of external biases, which leads to asymmetry in ionic I-V characteristics. Statistical analysis of the total translocation times including adsorption-desorption processes, and ion dwell times indicates that potassium ions predominantly remain adsorbed during their interaction with the membrane before undertaking a quick translocation through the pore. High applied biases suppress cation adsorption, which results in fast translocation with the current flow boosted by negative inner charges around the pore. We also show that in a membrane consisting of several "Janus" layers, the applied bias necessary to overcome the sub-nm pore barrier increases with the number of layers, providing control over the ionic current.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajat Chakraborty
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
- Nick Holonyak, Jr. Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Henry T Crawford-Eng
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
| | - Jean-Pierre Leburton
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
- Nick Holonyak, Jr. Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Department of Physics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
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10
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Zhai Z, Chen Q, Wang Y, Ren W, Guo P. Orientational dynamics of the water layer adjacent to Au surface accelerated by polarization effect. J Chem Phys 2024; 160:234704. [PMID: 38884408 DOI: 10.1063/5.0198777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024] Open
Abstract
The orientation and rearrangement of water on a gold electrode significantly influences its physicochemical heterogeneous performance. Despite numerous experimental and theoretical studies aimed at uncovering the structural characteristics of interfacial water, the orientational behavior resulting from electrode-induced rearrangements remains a subject of ongoing debate. Here, we employed molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the adaptive structure and dynamics properties of interfacial water on Au(111) and Au(100) surfaces by considering a polarizable model for Au atoms in comparison with the non-polarizable model. Compared to the nonpolarizable systems, the polarization effect can enhance the interaction between water molecules and the gold surface. Unexpectedly, the rotational dynamics directly associated with the orientational behavior of water adjacent to the gold surface is accelerated, thereby reducing the hydrogen bond lifetime. The underlying mechanism for this anomalous phenomenon originates from the polarization effect, which induces the attraction of the positive hydrogen atoms to the surface by the negative image charge. This leads to a change in orientation that disrupts the hydrogen bonds in the first water layer and subsequently accelerates reorientation dynamics of water molecules adjacent to the gold surface. These results shed light on the intricate interplay between polarization effects and water molecule dynamics on metal surfaces, establishing the foundation for the rational regulation of the orientation of interfacial water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhidong Zhai
- Department of Physics, Shanghai Key Laboratory of High Temperature Superconductors, International Centre of Quantum and Molecular Structures, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Qun Chen
- Department of Physics, Shanghai Key Laboratory of High Temperature Superconductors, International Centre of Quantum and Molecular Structures, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Yin Wang
- Department of Physics, Shanghai Key Laboratory of High Temperature Superconductors, International Centre of Quantum and Molecular Structures, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Wei Ren
- Department of Physics, Shanghai Key Laboratory of High Temperature Superconductors, International Centre of Quantum and Molecular Structures, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Pan Guo
- Department of Physics, Shanghai Key Laboratory of High Temperature Superconductors, International Centre of Quantum and Molecular Structures, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
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11
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Carlson S, Schullian O, Becker MR, Netz RR. Modeling Water Interactions with Graphene and Graphite via Force Fields Consistent with Experimental Contact Angles. J Phys Chem Lett 2024; 15:6325-6333. [PMID: 38856977 PMCID: PMC11194815 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.4c01143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2024] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Accurate simulation models for water interactions with graphene and graphite are important for nanofluidic applications, but existing force fields produce widely varying contact angles. Our extensive review of the experimental literature reveals extreme variation among reported values of graphene-water contact angles and a clustering of graphite-water contact angles into groups of freshly exfoliated (60° ± 13°) and not-freshly exfoliated graphite surfaces. The carbon-oxygen dispersion energy for a classical force field is optimized with respect to this 60° graphite-water contact angle in the infinite-force-cutoff limit, which in turn yields a contact angle for unsupported graphene of 80°, in agreement with the mean of the experimental results. Interaction force fields for finite cutoffs are also derived. A method for calculating contact angles from pressure tensors of planar equilibrium simulations that is ideally suited to graphite and graphene surfaces is introduced. Our methodology is widely applicable to any liquid-surface combination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shane
R. Carlson
- Fachbereich
Physik, Freie Universität Berlin, Arnimallee 14, D-14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Otto Schullian
- Fachbereich
Physik, Freie Universität Berlin, Arnimallee 14, D-14195 Berlin, Germany
- Department
of Biomaterials, Max Planck Institute of
Colloids and Interfaces, D-14424 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Maximilian R. Becker
- Fachbereich
Physik, Freie Universität Berlin, Arnimallee 14, D-14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Roland R. Netz
- Fachbereich
Physik, Freie Universität Berlin, Arnimallee 14, D-14195 Berlin, Germany
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12
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Wu D, Zhao Z, Lin B, Song Y, Qi J, Jiang J, Yuan Z, Cheng B, Zhao M, Tian Y, Wang Z, Wu M, Bian K, Liu KH, Xu LM, Zeng XC, Wang EG, Jiang Y. Probing structural superlubricity of two-dimensional water transport with atomic resolution. Science 2024; 384:1254-1259. [PMID: 38870285 DOI: 10.1126/science.ado1544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Low-dimensional water transport can be drastically enhanced under atomic-scale confinement. However, its microscopic origin is still under debate. In this work, we directly imaged the atomic structure and transport of two-dimensional water islands on graphene and hexagonal boron nitride surfaces using qPlus-based atomic force microscopy. The lattice of the water island was incommensurate with the graphene surface but commensurate with the boron nitride surface owing to different surface electrostatics. The area-normalized static friction on the graphene diminished as the island area was increased by a power of ~-0.58, suggesting superlubricity behavior. By contrast, the friction on the boron nitride appeared insensitive to the area. Molecular dynamic simulations further showed that the friction coefficient of the water islands on the graphene could reduce to <0.01.
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Affiliation(s)
- Da Wu
- International Center for Quantum Materials, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Zhengpu Zhao
- International Center for Quantum Materials, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Bo Lin
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Yizhi Song
- International Center for Quantum Materials, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Jiajie Qi
- State Key Laboratory for Mesoscopic Physics, Frontiers Science Center for Nano-optoelectronics, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Jian Jiang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Zifeng Yuan
- International Center for Quantum Materials, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Bowei Cheng
- International Center for Quantum Materials, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Mengze Zhao
- State Key Laboratory for Mesoscopic Physics, Frontiers Science Center for Nano-optoelectronics, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Ye Tian
- International Center for Quantum Materials, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Zhichang Wang
- International Center for Quantum Materials, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Muhong Wu
- International Center for Quantum Materials, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- Interdisciplinary Institute of Light-Element Quantum Materials and Research Centre for Light-Element Advanced Materials, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory, Institute of Physics, CAS and School of Physics, Liaoning University, Shenyang 110036, China
| | - Ke Bian
- International Center for Quantum Materials, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Kai-Hui Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Mesoscopic Physics, Frontiers Science Center for Nano-optoelectronics, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- Interdisciplinary Institute of Light-Element Quantum Materials and Research Centre for Light-Element Advanced Materials, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Quantum Matter, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Li-Mei Xu
- International Center for Quantum Materials, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- Interdisciplinary Institute of Light-Element Quantum Materials and Research Centre for Light-Element Advanced Materials, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Quantum Matter, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Xiao Cheng Zeng
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
- Hong Kong Institute for Clean Energy, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - En-Ge Wang
- International Center for Quantum Materials, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- Interdisciplinary Institute of Light-Element Quantum Materials and Research Centre for Light-Element Advanced Materials, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory, Institute of Physics, CAS and School of Physics, Liaoning University, Shenyang 110036, China
- Tsientang Institute for Advanced Study, Zhejiang 310024, China
| | - Ying Jiang
- International Center for Quantum Materials, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- Interdisciplinary Institute of Light-Element Quantum Materials and Research Centre for Light-Element Advanced Materials, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Quantum Matter, Beijing 100871, China
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
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13
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Du W, Wang Y, Yang J, Chen J. Two rhombic ice phases from aqueous salt solutions under graphene confinement. Phys Rev E 2024; 109:L062103. [PMID: 39020996 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.109.l062103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
Water exhibits rich ice phases depending upon its respective formation conditions, and in particular, the two-dimensional ice with nonhexagonal symmetry adsorbed on solids relates to the exceptional arrangement of water molecules. Despite extensive reporting of two-dimensional ice on various solid surfaces, the geometry and thermodynamics of ice formation from an aqueous salt solution are still unknown. In this Letter, we show the formation of single- and two-phase mixed two-dimensional rhombic ice from aqueous salt solutions with different concentrations under strong compressed confinement of graphene at ambient temperature by using classical molecular dynamics simulations and first-principles calculations. The two rhombic ice phases exhibit identical geometry and thermodynamic properties, but different projections of the oxygen atoms against solid surface symmetry, where they relate to the stable and metastable arrangements of water molecules confined between two graphene layers. A single-phase rhombic ice would grow from the confined saturated aqueous solutions since the previously stable rhombic molecular arrangement becomes an unstable high-energy state by introducing salt ions nearby. Our result reveals different rhombic ice phases growing from pure water and aqueous solutions, highlighting the deciding role of salt ions in the ice formation process due to their common presence in liquids.
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14
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Chen L, Wu AX, Tulu N, Wang J, Juanson A, Watanabe K, Taniguchi T, Pettes MT, Campbell MA, Xu M, Gadre CA, Zhou Y, Chen H, Cao P, Jauregui LA, Wu R, Pan X, Sanchez-Yamagishi JD. Exceptional electronic transport and quantum oscillations in thin bismuth crystals grown inside van der Waals materials. NATURE MATERIALS 2024; 23:741-746. [PMID: 38740956 DOI: 10.1038/s41563-024-01894-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Confining materials to two-dimensional forms changes the behaviour of the electrons and enables the creation of new devices. However, most materials are challenging to produce as uniform, thin crystals. Here we present a synthesis approach where thin crystals are grown in a nanoscale mould defined by atomically flat van der Waals (vdW) materials. By heating and compressing bismuth in a vdW mould made of hexagonal boron nitride, we grow ultraflat bismuth crystals less than 10 nm thick. Due to quantum confinement, the bismuth bulk states are gapped, isolating intrinsic Rashba surface states for transport studies. The vdW-moulded bismuth shows exceptional electronic transport, enabling the observation of Shubnikov-de Haas quantum oscillations originating from the (111) surface state Landau levels. By measuring the gate-dependent magnetoresistance, we observe multi-carrier quantum oscillations and Landau level splitting, with features originating from both the top and bottom surfaces. Our vdW mould growth technique establishes a platform for electronic studies and control of bismuth's Rashba surface states and topological boundary modes1-3. Beyond bismuth, the vdW-moulding approach provides a low-cost way to synthesize ultrathin crystals and directly integrate them into a vdW heterostructure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laisi Chen
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Amy X Wu
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Naol Tulu
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Joshua Wang
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Adrian Juanson
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, CA, USA
| | - Kenji Watanabe
- Research Center for Electronic and Optical Materials, National Institute for Materials Science, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Takashi Taniguchi
- Research Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics, National Institute for Materials Science, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Michael T Pettes
- Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies (CINT), Materials Physics and Applications Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, USA
| | - Marshall A Campbell
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
- Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies (CINT), Materials Physics and Applications Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, USA
| | - Mingjie Xu
- Irvine Materials Research Institute, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Chaitanya A Gadre
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Yinong Zhou
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Hangman Chen
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Penghui Cao
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Luis A Jauregui
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Ruqian Wu
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Xiaoqing Pan
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
- Irvine Materials Research Institute, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
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15
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Hou Y, Zhou J, He Z, Chen J, Zhu M, Wu H, Lu Y. Tuning instability in suspended monolayer 2D materials. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4033. [PMID: 38740743 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48345-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Monolayer two-dimensional (2D) materials possess excellent in-plane mechanical strength yet extremely low bending stiffness, making them particularly susceptible to instability, which is anticipated to have a substantial impact on their physical functionalities such as 2D-based Micro/Nanoelectromechanical systems (M/NEMS), nanochannels, and proton transport membrane. In this work, we achieve quantitatively tuning instability in suspended 2D materials including monolayer graphene and MoS2 by employing a push-to-shear strategy. We comprehensively examine the dynamic wrinkling-splitting-smoothing process and find that monolayer 2D materials experience stepwise instabilities along with different recovery processes. These stepwise instabilities are governed by the materials' geometry, pretension, and the elastic nonlinearity. We attribute the different instability and recovery paths to the local stress redistribution in monolayer 2D materials. The tunable instability behavior of suspended monolayer 2D materials not only allows measuring their bending stiffness but also opens up new opportunities for programming the nanoscale instability pattern and even physical properties of atomically thin films.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Hou
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, 999077, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, 999077, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Jingzhuo Zhou
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, 999077, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Zezhou He
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Materials, Department of Modern Mechanics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
| | - Juzheng Chen
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, 999077, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Mengya Zhu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, 999077, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - HengAn Wu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Materials, Department of Modern Mechanics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
| | - Yang Lu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, 999077, Hong Kong SAR, China.
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16
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Faraji F, Neyts EC, Milošević MV, Peeters FM. Capillary Condensation of Water in Graphene Nanocapillaries. NANO LETTERS 2024; 24:5625-5630. [PMID: 38662431 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.4c01088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Recent experiments have revealed that the macroscopic Kelvin equation remains surprisingly accurate even for nanoscale capillaries. This phenomenon was so far explained by the oscillatory behavior of the solid-liquid interfacial free energy. We here demonstrate thermodynamic and capillarity inconsistencies with this explanation. After revising the Kelvin equation, we ascribe its validity at nanoscale confinement to the effect of disjoining pressure. To substantiate our hypothesis, we employed molecular dynamics simulations to evaluate interfacial heat transfer and wetting properties. Our assessments unveil a breakdown in a previously established proportionality between the work of adhesion and the Kapitza conductance at capillary heights below 1.3 nm, where the dominance of the work of adhesion shifts primarily from energy to entropy. Alternatively, the peak density of the initial water layer can effectively probe the work of adhesion. Unlike under bulk conditions, high confinement renders the work of adhesion entropically unfavorable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fahim Faraji
- Department of Chemistry, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Physics, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium
- NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Erik C Neyts
- Department of Chemistry, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium
- NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Milorad V Milošević
- Department of Physics, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium
- NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium
- Instituto de Física, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, 78060-900 Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil
| | - François M Peeters
- Department of Physics, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium
- NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium
- Departamento de Física, Universidade Federal do Ceará, 60455-760 Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
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17
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Zhou R, Neek-Amal M, Peeters FM, Bai B, Sun C. Interlink between Abnormal Water Imbibition in Hydrophilic and Rapid Flow in Hydrophobic Nanochannels. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2024; 132:184001. [PMID: 38759191 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.132.184001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
Nanoscale extension and refinement of the Lucas-Washburn model is presented with a detailed analysis of recent experimental data and extensive molecular dynamics simulations to investigate rapid water flow and water imbibition within nanocapillaries. Through a comparative analysis of capillary rise in hydrophilic nanochannels, an unexpected reversal of the anticipated trend, with an abnormal peak, of imbibition length below the size of 3 nm was discovered in hydrophilic nanochannels, surprisingly sharing the same physical origin as the well-known peak observed in flow rate within hydrophobic nanochannels. The extended imbibition model is applicable across diverse spatiotemporal scales and validated against simulation results and existing experimental data for both hydrophilic and hydrophobic nanochannels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Runfeng Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Multiphase Flow in Power Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710049, China
| | - Mehdi Neek-Amal
- Department of Physics, Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University, 16875-163 Lavizan, Tehran, Iran
- Departement Fysica, Universiteit Antwerpen, Groenenborgerlaan 171, B-2020 Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Francois M Peeters
- Departement Fysica, Universiteit Antwerpen, Groenenborgerlaan 171, B-2020 Antwerpen, Belgium
- Departamento de Física, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza-CE 60455-760, Brazil
| | - Bofeng Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Multiphase Flow in Power Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710049, China
| | - Chengzhen Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Multiphase Flow in Power Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710049, China
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18
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Chen X, Qin Y, Zhu Y, Pan X, Wang Y, Ma H, Wang R, Easton CD, Chen Y, Tang C, Du A, Huang A, Xie Z, Zhang X, Simon GP, Banaszak Holl MM, Lu X, Novoselov K, Wang H. Accurate prediction of solvent flux in sub-1-nm slit-pore nanosheet membranes. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadl1455. [PMID: 38669337 PMCID: PMC11051674 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adl1455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Nanosheet-based membranes have shown enormous potential for energy-efficient molecular transport and separation applications, but designing these membranes for specific separations remains a great challenge due to the lack of good understanding of fluid transport mechanisms in complex nanochannels. We synthesized reduced MXene/graphene hetero-channel membranes with sub-1-nm pores for experimental measurements and theoretical modeling of their structures and fluid transport rates. Our experiments showed that upon complete rejection of salt and organic dyes, these membranes with subnanometer channels exhibit remarkably high solvent fluxes, and their solvent transport behavior is very different from their homo-structured counterparts. We proposed a subcontinuum flow model that enables accurate prediction of solvent flux in sub-1-nm slit-pore membranes by building a direct relationship between the solvent molecule-channel wall interaction and flux from the confined physical properties of a liquid and the structural parameters of the membranes. This work provides a basis for the rational design of nanosheet-based membranes for advanced separation and emerging nanofluidics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofang Chen
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular & Process Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Chemical Processes, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yao Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211816, China
- Suzhou Laboratory, Suzhou 215125, China
| | - Yudan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211816, China
- Suzhou Laboratory, Suzhou 215125, China
| | - Xueling Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211816, China
- Suzhou Laboratory, Suzhou 215125, China
| | - Yuqi Wang
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Hongyu Ma
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Ruoxin Wang
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | | | - Yu Chen
- Monash Centre for Electron Microscopy, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Cheng Tang
- School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering, Science and Engineering Faculty, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland 4001, Australia
| | - Aijun Du
- School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering, Science and Engineering Faculty, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland 4001, Australia
| | - Aisheng Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular & Process Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Chemical Processes, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zongli Xie
- CSIRO Manufacturing, Private Bag 10, Clayton South, Victoria 3169, Australia
| | - Xiwang Zhang
- UQ Dow Centre, School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - George P. Simon
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Mark M. Banaszak Holl
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
- Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294
| | - Xiaohua Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211816, China
- Suzhou Laboratory, Suzhou 215125, China
| | - Kostya Novoselov
- Institute for Functional Intelligent Materials, National University of Singapore, Building S9, 4 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117544, Singapore
| | - Huanting Wang
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
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19
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Chen X, Mu Y, Jin C, Wei Y, Hao J, Wang H, Caro J, Huang A. Ultrathin Two-Dimensional Porous Fullerene Membranes for Ultimate Organic Solvent Separation. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202401747. [PMID: 38373179 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202401747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 02/18/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
Two-dimensional (2D) materials with high chemical stability have attracted intensive interest in membrane design for the separation of organic solvents. As a novel 2D material, polymeric fullerenes (C60)∞ with distinctive properties are very promising for the development of innovative membranes. In this work, we report the construction of a 2D (C60)∞ nanosheet membrane for organic solvent separation. The pathways of the (C60)∞ nanosheet membrane are constructed by sub-1-nm lateral channels and nanoscale in-plane pores created by the depolymerization of the (C60)∞ nanosheets. Attributing to ordered and shortened transport pathways, the ultrathin porous (C60)∞ membrane is superior in organic solvent separation. The hexane, acetone, and methanol fluxes are up to 1146.3±53, 900.4±41, and 879.5±42 kg ⋅ m-2 ⋅ h-1, respectively, which are up to 130 times higher than those of the state-of-the-art membranes with similar dye rejection. Our findings demonstrate the prospect of 2D (C60)∞ as a promising nanofiltration membrane in the separation of organic solvents from macromolecular compounds such as dyes, drugs, hormones, etc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofang Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular & Process Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Chemical Processes, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, 500, Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Yifang Mu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular & Process Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Chemical Processes, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, 500, Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Chunxin Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular & Process Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Chemical Processes, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, 500, Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Yayu Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular & Process Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Chemical Processes, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, 500, Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Jinlin Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular & Process Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Chemical Processes, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, 500, Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Huanting Wang
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Jürgen Caro
- Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, Leibniz University Hanover, Callinstrasse 3 A, 30167, Hannover, Deutschland
| | - Aisheng Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular & Process Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Chemical Processes, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, 500, Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China
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20
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Wagemann E, Kim NY, Mitra SK. Cs + conductance in graphene membranes with Ångström-scale pores: the role of pore entrance geometry. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2024; 26:11311-11319. [PMID: 38444318 DOI: 10.1039/d4cp00400k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
Recently, 2D materials, such as graphene, have been successfully implemented as artificial conduits of molecular sizes. The extreme precision with which these structures can be fabricated provides an unprecedented framework for the development of highly specific and efficient devices. In this work, we study the electrophoretic transport of Cs+ ions in a graphene membrane with effective pore heights of 3.4 Å by conducting molecular dynamics simulations. The entrance of the pore is systematically modified to investigate the effect of pore geometry on ionic conductance. Simulation results suggest a significant correlation between ionic conductance and entrance geometry, with a variation of the conductance up to 100% across the studied cases. To explain the observed correlation, two mechanisms involving an intimate relationship between ion dehydration and edge functional groups are proposed. The present study provides theoretical insights that can aid the design of graphene-based membranes with tunable ionic transport properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrique Wagemann
- Departamento de Ingeniería Mecanica, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4070409, Chile
| | - Na Young Kim
- Institute for Quantum Computing, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave. West, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave. West, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
- Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave. West, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Sushanta K Mitra
- Micro & Nano-Scale Transport Laboratory, Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada.
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21
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Fong KD, Sumić B, O’Neill N, Schran C, Grey CP, Michaelides A. The Interplay of Solvation and Polarization Effects on Ion Pairing in Nanoconfined Electrolytes. NANO LETTERS 2024; 24. [PMID: 38592099 PMCID: PMC11057028 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.4c00890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
The nature of ion-ion interactions in electrolytes confined to nanoscale pores has important implications for energy storage and separation technologies. However, the physical effects dictating the structure of nanoconfined electrolytes remain debated. Here we employ machine-learning-based molecular dynamics simulations to investigate ion-ion interactions with density functional theory level accuracy in a prototypical confined electrolyte, aqueous NaCl within graphene slit pores. We find that the free energy of ion pairing in highly confined electrolytes deviates substantially from that in bulk solutions, observing a decrease in contact ion pairing but an increase in solvent-separated ion pairing. These changes arise from an interplay of ion solvation effects and graphene's electronic structure. Notably, the behavior observed from our first-principles-level simulations is not reproduced even qualitatively with the classical force fields conventionally used to model these systems. The insight provided in this work opens new avenues for predicting and controlling the structure of nanoconfined electrolytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kara D. Fong
- Yusuf
Hamied Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Barbara Sumić
- Yusuf
Hamied Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Niamh O’Neill
- Yusuf
Hamied Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Christoph Schran
- Cavendish
Laboratory, Department of Physics, University
of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 OHE, United
Kingdom
| | - Clare P. Grey
- Yusuf
Hamied Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Angelos Michaelides
- Yusuf
Hamied Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
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22
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Liu S, Zhang X, Yang Y, Hu N. Ion Transport in Multi-Nanochannels Regulated by pH and Ion Concentration. Anal Chem 2024; 96:5648-5657. [PMID: 38556994 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.4c00406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Nanochannels are a powerful technique for detecting a wide range of biomolecules without labeling. The ion transport phenomena in nanochannel arrays differ from those in single nanochannels and are caused by interchannel communication. This study uses a fully coupled Poisson-Nernst-Planck (PNP) and Navier-Stokes model to investigate ion transport in nanochannel arrays. Instead of being set at a constant value, the surface charge density used in this study is established by the protonation and deprotonation of the silanol groups that are present on the walls of the silicon-based nanochannels. The surface charge density of the nanochannel walls varies with the number of nanochannels, the channel lateral distance, and the background solution properties, which consequently influence the ionic concentration distribution, flow velocity, and electric field strength. For example, in different numbers of nanochannel systems, the ion concentration in nanochannels is not much different, but it is different in reservoirs, especially near the openings of nanochannels. The number of nanochannels and the distance between nanochannels can also affect the formation of electro-convective vortex zones under certain conditions. These findings can aid in optimizing the nanochannel array design by regulating the number and distance of nanochannels and facilitating the construction of solid-state nanochannel arrays with any desired nanochannel dimensions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiping Liu
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education and Bioengineering College, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, P. R. China
- School of Safety Engineering, Chongqing University of Science and Technology, Chongqing 401331, P. R. China
| | - Xiaoling Zhang
- School of Smart Health, Chongqing College of Electronic Engineering, Chongqing 401331, P. R. China
| | - Yuanjian Yang
- School of Safety Engineering, Chongqing University of Science and Technology, Chongqing 401331, P. R. China
| | - Ning Hu
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education and Bioengineering College, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, P. R. China
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23
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Liu C, Zou X, Lv Y, Liu X, Ma C, Li K, Liu Y, Chai Y, Liao L, He J. Controllable van der Waals gaps by water adsorption. NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY 2024; 19:448-454. [PMID: 38177277 DOI: 10.1038/s41565-023-01579-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
Van der Waals (vdW) gaps with ångström-scale heights can confine molecules or ions to an ultimately small scale, providing an alternative way to tune material properties and explore microscopic phenomena. Modulation of the height of vdW gaps between two-dimensional (2D) materials is challenging due to the vdW interaction. Here we report a general approach to control the vdW gap by preadsorption of water molecules on the material surface. By controlling the saturation vapour pressure of water vapour, we can precisely control the adsorption level of water molecules and vary the height of the vdW gaps of MoS2 homojunctions from 5.5 Å to 53.6 Å. This technique can be further applied to other homo- and heterojunctions, constructing controlled vdW gaps in 2D artificial superlattices and in 2D/3D and 3D/3D heterojunctions. Engineering the vdW gap has great practical potential to modulate the device performance, as evidenced by the vdW-gap-dependent diode characteristics of the MoS2/gap/MoS2 junction. Our work introduces a general strategy of molecular preadsorption that can extend to various precursors, creating more tunability and variability in vdW material systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang Liu
- Key Laboratory for Micro/Nano Optoelectronic Devices of Ministry of Education & Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Low-Dimensional Structural Physics and Devices, School of Physics and Electronics, Hunan University, Changsha, China
- State Key Laboratory of Infrared Physics, Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Xuming Zou
- Key Laboratory for Micro/Nano Optoelectronic Devices of Ministry of Education & Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Low-Dimensional Structural Physics and Devices, School of Physics and Electronics, Hunan University, Changsha, China.
| | - Yawei Lv
- Key Laboratory for Micro/Nano Optoelectronic Devices of Ministry of Education & Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Low-Dimensional Structural Physics and Devices, School of Physics and Electronics, Hunan University, Changsha, China
| | - Xingqiang Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Semiconductors (College of Integrated Circuits), Hunan University, Changsha, China
| | - Chao Ma
- Key Laboratory for Micro/Nano Optoelectronic Devices of Ministry of Education & Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Low-Dimensional Structural Physics and Devices, School of Physics and Electronics, Hunan University, Changsha, China
| | - Kenli Li
- Key Laboratory for Micro/Nano Optoelectronic Devices of Ministry of Education & Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Low-Dimensional Structural Physics and Devices, School of Physics and Electronics, Hunan University, Changsha, China
| | - Yuan Liu
- Key Laboratory for Micro/Nano Optoelectronic Devices of Ministry of Education & Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Low-Dimensional Structural Physics and Devices, School of Physics and Electronics, Hunan University, Changsha, China
| | - Yang Chai
- Department of Applied Physics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Lei Liao
- State Key Laboratory for Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Semiconductors (College of Integrated Circuits), Hunan University, Changsha, China.
- School of Physics and Electronic Engineering, Harbin Normal University, Harbin, China.
| | - Jun He
- Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro- and Nano-structures of Ministry of Education and School of Physics and Technology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
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24
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Hou J, Zhao C, Zhang H. Bio-Inspired Subnanofluidics: Advanced Fabrication and Functionalization. SMALL METHODS 2024; 8:e2300278. [PMID: 37203269 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202300278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Biological ion channels can realize high-speed and high-selective ion transport through the protein filter with the sub-1-nanometer channel. Inspired by biological ion channels, various kinds of artificial subnanopores, subnanochannels, and subnanoslits with improved ion selectivity and permeability are recently developed for efficient separation, energy conversion, and biosensing. This review article discusses the advanced fabrication and functionalization methods for constructing subnanofluidic pores, channels, tubes, and slits, which have shown great potential for various applications. Novel fabrication methods for producing subnanofluidics, including top-down techniques such as electron beam etching, ion irradiation, and electrochemical etching, as well as bottom-up approaches starting from advanced microporous frameworks, microporous polymers, lipid bilayer embedded subnanochannels, and stacked 2D materials are well summarized. Meanwhile, the functionalization methods of subnanochannels are discussed based on the introduction of functional groups, which are classified into direct synthesis, covalent bond modifications, and functional molecule fillings. These methods have enabled the construction of subnanochannels with precise control of structure, size, and functionality. The current progress, challenges, and future directions in the field of subnanofluidic are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jue Hou
- Chemical and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000, Australia
| | - Chen Zhao
- Chemical and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000, Australia
| | - Huacheng Zhang
- Chemical and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000, Australia
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25
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Tian Y, Song Y, Xia Y, Hong J, Huang Y, Ma R, You S, Guan D, Cao D, Zhao M, Chen J, Song C, Liu K, Xu LM, Gao YQ, Wang EG, Jiang Y. Nanoscale one-dimensional close packing of interfacial alkali ions driven by water-mediated attraction. NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY 2024; 19:479-484. [PMID: 38049594 DOI: 10.1038/s41565-023-01550-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023]
Abstract
The permeability and selectivity of biological and artificial ion channels correlate with the specific hydration structure of single ions. However, fundamental understanding of the effect of ion-ion interaction remains elusive. Here, via non-contact atomic force microscopy measurements, we demonstrate that hydrated alkali metal cations (Na+ and K+) at charged surfaces could come into close contact with each other through partial dehydration and water rearrangement processes, forming one-dimensional chain structures. We prove that the interplay at the nanoscale between the water-ion and water-water interaction can lead to an effective ion-ion attraction overcoming the ionic Coulomb repulsion. The tendency for different ions to become closely packed follows the sequence K+ > Na+ > Li+, which is attributed to their different dehydration energies and charge densities. This work highlights the key role of water molecules in prompting close packing and concerted movement of ions at charged surfaces, which may provide new insights into the mechanism of ion transport under atomic confinement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Tian
- International Center for Quantum Materials, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yizhi Song
- International Center for Quantum Materials, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yijie Xia
- Institute of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiani Hong
- International Center for Quantum Materials, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yupeng Huang
- Institute of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Runze Ma
- International Center for Quantum Materials, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Sifan You
- International Center for Quantum Materials, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Dong Guan
- International Center for Quantum Materials, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Duanyun Cao
- International Center for Quantum Materials, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Mengze Zhao
- State Key Laboratory for Mesoscopic Physics, Frontiers Science Centre for Nano-optoelectronics, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Ji Chen
- School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
- Interdisciplinary Institute of Light-Element Quantum Materials and Research Center for Light-Element Advanced Materials, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Chen Song
- Center for Quantitative Biology, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Kaihui Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Mesoscopic Physics, Frontiers Science Centre for Nano-optoelectronics, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Interdisciplinary Institute of Light-Element Quantum Materials and Research Center for Light-Element Advanced Materials, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Quantum Matter, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Li-Mei Xu
- International Center for Quantum Materials, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
- Interdisciplinary Institute of Light-Element Quantum Materials and Research Center for Light-Element Advanced Materials, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Quantum Matter, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yi Qin Gao
- Institute of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
| | - En-Ge Wang
- International Center for Quantum Materials, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
- Interdisciplinary Institute of Light-Element Quantum Materials and Research Center for Light-Element Advanced Materials, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Quantum Matter, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
- Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory, Institute of Physics, CAS and School of Physics, Liaoning University, Shenyang, People's Republic of China.
| | - Ying Jiang
- International Center for Quantum Materials, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
- Interdisciplinary Institute of Light-Element Quantum Materials and Research Center for Light-Element Advanced Materials, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Quantum Matter, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
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26
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Emmerich T, Teng Y, Ronceray N, Lopriore E, Chiesa R, Chernev A, Artemov V, Di Ventra M, Kis A, Radenovic A. Nanofluidic logic with mechano-ionic memristive switches. NATURE ELECTRONICS 2024; 7:271-278. [PMID: 38681725 PMCID: PMC11045460 DOI: 10.1038/s41928-024-01137-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Neuromorphic systems are typically based on nanoscale electronic devices, but nature relies on ions for energy-efficient information processing. Nanofluidic memristive devices could thus potentially be used to construct electrolytic computers that mimic the brain down to its basic principles of operation. Here we report a nanofluidic device that is designed for circuit-scale in-memory processing. The device, which is fabricated using a scalable process, combines single-digit nanometric confinement and large entrance asymmetry and operates on the second timescale with a conductance ratio in the range of 9 to 60. In operando optical microscopy shows that the memory capabilities are due to the reversible formation of liquid blisters that modulate the conductance of the device. We use these mechano-ionic memristive switches to assemble logic circuits composed of two interactive devices and an ohmic resistor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theo Emmerich
- Laboratory of Nanoscale Biology, Institute of Bioengineering, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Yunfei Teng
- Laboratory of Nanoscale Biology, Institute of Bioengineering, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
- NCCR Bio-Inspired Materials, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nathan Ronceray
- Laboratory of Nanoscale Biology, Institute of Bioengineering, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Edoardo Lopriore
- Laboratory of Nanoscale Electronics and Structures, Institute of Electrical and Microengineering & Institute of Materials Science and Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Riccardo Chiesa
- Laboratory of Nanoscale Electronics and Structures, Institute of Electrical and Microengineering & Institute of Materials Science and Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Andrey Chernev
- Laboratory of Nanoscale Biology, Institute of Bioengineering, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Vasily Artemov
- Laboratory of Nanoscale Biology, Institute of Bioengineering, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Andras Kis
- Laboratory of Nanoscale Electronics and Structures, Institute of Electrical and Microengineering & Institute of Materials Science and Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Aleksandra Radenovic
- Laboratory of Nanoscale Biology, Institute of Bioengineering, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
- NCCR Bio-Inspired Materials, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
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27
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Rezlerová E, Moučka F, Předota M, Lísal M. Structure and self-diffusivity of mixed-cation electrolytes between neutral and charged graphene sheets. J Chem Phys 2024; 160:094701. [PMID: 38426518 DOI: 10.1063/5.0188104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Graphene-based applications, such as supercapacitors or capacitive deionization, take place in an aqueous environment, and they benefit from molecular-level insights into the behavior of aqueous electrolyte solutions in single-digit graphene nanopores with a size comparable to a few molecular diameters. Under single-digit graphene nanoconfinement (smallest dimension <2 nm), water and ions behave drastically different than in the bulk. Most aqueous electrolytes in the graphene-based applications as well as in nature contain a mix of electrolytes. We study several prototypical aqueous mixed alkali-chloride electrolytes containing an equimolar fraction of Li/Na, Li/K, or Na/K cations confined between neutral and positively or negatively charged parallel graphene sheets. The strong hydration shell of small Li+ vs a larger Na+ or large K+ with weaker or weak hydration shells affects the interplay between the ions's propensity to hydrate or dehydrate under the graphene nanoconfinement and the strength of the ion-graphene interactions mediated by confinement-induced layered water. We perform molecular dynamics simulations of the confined mixed-cation electrolytes using the effectively polarizable force field for electrolyte-graphene systems and focused on a relation between the electrochemical adsorption and structural properties of the water molecules and ions and their diffusion behavior. The simulations show that the one-layer nanoslits have the biggest impact on the ions' adsorption and the water and ions' diffusion. The positively charged one-layer nanoslits only allow for Cl- adsorption and strengthen the intermolecular bonding, which along with the ultrathin confinement substantially reduces the water and Cl- diffusion. In contrast, the negatively charged one-layer nanoslits only allow for adsorption of weakly hydrated Na+ or K+ and substantially break up the non-covalent bond network, which leads to the enhancement of the water and Na+ or K+ diffusion up to or even above the bulk diffusion. In wider nanoslits, cations adsorb closer to the graphene surfaces than Cl-'s with preferential adsorption of a weakly hydrated cation over a strongly hydrated cation. The positive graphene charge has an intuitive effect on the adsorption of weakly hydrated Na+'s or K+'s and Cl-'s and a counterintuitive effect on the adsorption of strongly hydrated Li+'s. On the other hand, the negative surface charge has an intuitive effect on the adsorption of both types of cations and only mild intuitive or counterintuitive effects on the Cl- adsorption. The diffusion of water molecules and ions confined in the wider nanoslits is reduced with respect to the bulk diffusion, more for the positive graphene charge, which strengthened the intermolecular bonding, and less for the negative surface charge, which weakened the non-covalent bond network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliška Rezlerová
- Research Group of Molecular and Mesoscopic Modelling, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Chemical Process Fundamentals, Rozvojová 135/1, Prague, Czech Republic
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem, Pasteurova 3544/1, Ústí n. Lab., Czech Republic
| | - Filip Moučka
- Research Group of Molecular and Mesoscopic Modelling, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Chemical Process Fundamentals, Rozvojová 135/1, Prague, Czech Republic
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem, Pasteurova 3544/1, Ústí n. Lab., Czech Republic
| | - Milan Předota
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Lísal
- Research Group of Molecular and Mesoscopic Modelling, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Chemical Process Fundamentals, Rozvojová 135/1, Prague, Czech Republic
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem, Pasteurova 3544/1, Ústí n. Lab., Czech Republic
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28
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Tong J, de Bruyn N, Alieva A, Legge EJ, Boyes M, Song X, Walisinghe AJ, Pollard AJ, Anderson MW, Vetter T, Melle-Franco M, Casiraghi C. Crystallization of molecular layers produced under confinement onto a surface. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2015. [PMID: 38443350 PMCID: PMC10914826 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45900-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
It is well known that molecules confined very close to a surface arrange into molecular layers. Because solid-liquid interfaces are ubiquitous in the chemical, biological and physical sciences, it is crucial to develop methods to easily access molecular layers and exploit their distinct properties by producing molecular layered crystals. Here we report a method based on crystallization in ultra-thin puddles enabled by gas blowing, which allows to produce molecular layered crystals with thickness down to the monolayer onto a surface, making them directly accessible for characterization and further processing. By selecting four molecules with different types of polymorphs, we observed exclusive crystallization of polymorphs with Van der Waals interlayer interactions, which have not been observed with traditional confinement methods. In conclusion, the gas blowing approach unveils the opportunity to perform materials chemistry under confinement onto a surface, enabling the formation of distinct crystals with selected polymorphism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jincheng Tong
- Department of Chemistry, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK.
| | - Nathan de Bruyn
- Department of Chemistry, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Adriana Alieva
- Department of Chemistry, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Elizabeth J Legge
- National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, Middlesex, TW11 0LW, UK
- Advanced Technology Institute, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7XH, UK
| | - Matthew Boyes
- Department of Chemistry, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Xiuju Song
- Department of Chemistry, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Alvin J Walisinghe
- Curtin Institute for Computation, School for Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA, 6845, Australia
| | - Andrew J Pollard
- National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, Middlesex, TW11 0LW, UK
| | - Michael W Anderson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
- Curtin Institute for Computation, School for Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA, 6845, Australia
| | - Thomas Vetter
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, M1 3AL, UK
| | - Manuel Melle-Franco
- CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, 3810-193, Portugal
| | - Cinzia Casiraghi
- Department of Chemistry, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK.
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29
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Li H, Ge Z, Aminpour M, Wen L, Galindo-Torres SA. Pressure-dependent flow enhancement in carbon nanotubes. J Chem Phys 2024; 160:054503. [PMID: 38341689 DOI: 10.1063/5.0179870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/13/2024] Open
Abstract
It is a known and experimentally verified fact that the flow of pressure-driven nanoconfined fluids cannot be accurately described by the Navier-Stokes (NS) equations with non-slip boundary conditions, and the measured volumetric flow rates are much higher than those predicted by macroscopical continuum models. In particular, the flow enhancement factors (the ratio between the flow rates directly measured by experiments or simulations and those predicted by the non-slip NS equation) reported by previous studies have more than five orders of magnitude differences. We showcased an anomalous phenomenon in which the flow enhancement exhibits a non-monotonic correlation with fluid pressure within the carbon nanotube with a diameter of 2 nm. Molecular dynamics simulations indicate that the inconsistency of flow behaviors is attributed to the phase transition of nanoconfined fluid induced by fluid pressures. The nanomechanical mechanisms are contributed by complex hydrogen-bonding interactions and regulated water orientations. This study suggests a method for explaining the inconsistency of flow enhancements by considering the pressure-dependent molecular structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hangtong Li
- College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Coastal Environment and Resources of Zhejiang Province (KLaCER), School of Engineering, Westlake University, 600 Dunyu Rd., Hangzhou 310030, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhuan Ge
- Key Laboratory of Coastal Environment and Resources of Zhejiang Province (KLaCER), School of Engineering, Westlake University, 600 Dunyu Rd., Hangzhou 310030, Zhejiang, China
| | - Mohammad Aminpour
- Civil and Infrastructure Engineering, School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia
| | - Liaoyong Wen
- Key Laboratory of 3D Micro/Nano Fabrication and Characterization of Zhejiang Province, School of Engineering, Westlake University, 600 Dunyu Rd., Hangzhou 310030, Zhejiang, China
| | - Sergio Andres Galindo-Torres
- Key Laboratory of Coastal Environment and Resources of Zhejiang Province (KLaCER), School of Engineering, Westlake University, 600 Dunyu Rd., Hangzhou 310030, Zhejiang, China
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30
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Paul A, Aluru NR. Nanoscale electrohydrodynamic ion transport: Influences of channel geometry and polarization-induced surface charges. Phys Rev E 2024; 109:025105. [PMID: 38491612 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.109.025105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
Electrohydrodynamic ion transport has been studied in nanotubes, nanoslits, and nanopores to mimic the advanced functionalities of biological ion channels. However, probing how the intricate interplay between the electrical and mechanical interactions affects ion conduction in asymmetric nanoconduits presents further obstacles. Here, ion transport across a conical nanopore embedded in a polarizable membrane under an electric field and pressure is analyzed by numerically solving a continuum model based on the Poisson, Nernst-Planck, and Navier-Stokes equations. We report an anomalous ionic current depletion, of up to 75%, and an unexpected rise in current rectification when pressure is exerted along the external electric field. Membrane polarization is revealed as the prerequisite to obtain this previously undetected electrohydrodynamic coupling. The electric field induces large surface charges at the pore tip due to its conical shape, creating nonuniform electrical double layers (EDL) with a massive accumulation of electrolyte ions near the orifice. Once applied, the pressure distorts the quasiequilibrium distribution of the EDL ions to influence the nanopore conductivity. Our fundamental approach to inspect the effect of pressure on the channel EDL (and thus ionic conductance) in contrast to its effect on the current arising from the hydrodynamic streaming of ions further explains the pressure-sensitive ion transport in different nanochannels and physical regimes manifested in past experiments, including the hitherto inexplicit mechanism behind the mechanically activated ion transport in carbon nanotubes. This enhances our broad understanding of nanoscale electrohydrodynamic ion transport, yielding a platform to build nanofluidic devices and ionic circuits with more robust and tunable responses to electrical and mechanical stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arghyadeep Paul
- Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
| | - N R Aluru
- Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering, Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
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31
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Wang M, Sadhukhan T, Lewis NHC, Wang M, He X, Yan G, Ying D, Hoenig E, Han Y, Peng G, Lee OS, Shi F, Tiede DM, Zhou H, Tokmakoff A, Schatz GC, Liu C. Anomalously enhanced ion transport and uptake in functionalized angstrom-scale two-dimensional channels. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2313616121. [PMID: 38165939 PMCID: PMC10786305 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2313616121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Emulating angstrom-scale dynamics of the highly selective biological ion channels is a challenging task. Recent work on angstrom-scale artificial channels has expanded our understanding of ion transport and uptake mechanisms under confinement. However, the role of chemical environment in such channels is still not well understood. Here, we report the anomalously enhanced transport and uptake of ions under confined MoS2-based channels that are ~five angstroms in size. The ion uptake preference in the MoS2-based channels can be changed by the selection of surface functional groups and ion uptake sequence due to the interplay between kinetic and thermodynamic factors that depend on whether the ions are mixed or not prior to uptake. Our work offers a holistic picture of ion transport in 2D confinement and highlights ion interplay in this regime.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingzhan Wang
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL60637
| | - Tumpa Sadhukhan
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL60208
- Department of Chemistry, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Tamil Nadu603203, India
| | - Nicholas H. C. Lewis
- Department of Chemistry, Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, and James Franck Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL60637
| | - Maoyu Wang
- X-Ray Science Division, Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL60439
| | - Xiang He
- Advanced Materials for Energy-Water Systems Energy Frontier Research Center and Chemical Sciences and Engineering Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL60439
| | - Gangbin Yan
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL60637
| | - Dongchen Ying
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL60637
| | - Eli Hoenig
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL60637
| | - Yu Han
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL60637
| | - Guiming Peng
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL60637
| | - One-Sun Lee
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL60208
| | - Fengyuan Shi
- Electron Microscopy Core, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL60607
| | - David M. Tiede
- Advanced Materials for Energy-Water Systems Energy Frontier Research Center and Chemical Sciences and Engineering Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL60439
| | - Hua Zhou
- X-Ray Science Division, Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL60439
| | - Andrei Tokmakoff
- Department of Chemistry, Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, and James Franck Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL60637
| | - George C. Schatz
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL60208
| | - Chong Liu
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL60637
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32
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Tian M, Liu Y, Zhang S, Yu C, Ostrikov KK, Zhang Z. Overcoming the permeability-selectivity challenge in water purification using two-dimensional cobalt-functionalized vermiculite membrane. Nat Commun 2024; 15:391. [PMID: 38195579 PMCID: PMC10776859 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-44699-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Clean water and sanitation are major global challenges highlighted by the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Water treatment using energy-efficient membrane technologies is one of the most promising solutions. Despite decades of research, the membrane permeability-selectivity trade-off remains the major challenge for synthetic membranes. To overcome this challenge, here we develop a two-dimensional cobalt-functionalized vermiculite membrane (Co@VMT), which innovatively combines the properties of membrane filtration and nanoconfinement catalysis. The Co@VMT membrane demonstrates a high water permeance of 122.4 L·m-2·h-1·bar-1, which is two orders of magnitude higher than that of the VMT membrane (1.1 L·m-2·h-1·bar-1). Moreover, the Co@VMT membrane is applied as a nanofluidic advanced oxidation process platform to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for degradation of several organic pollutants (dyes, pharmaceuticals, and phenols) and shows excellent degradation performance (~100%) and stability (for over 107 h) even in real-world water matrices. Importantly, safe and non-toxic effluent water quality is ensured by the Co@VMT membrane/PMS system without brine, which is totally different from the molecular sieving-based VMT membrane with the concentrated pollutants remaining in the brine. This work can serve as a generic design blueprint for the development of diverse nanofluidic catalytic membranes to overcome the persistent membrane permeability-selectivity issue in water purification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengtao Tian
- Membrane & Nanotechnology-Enabled Water Treatment Center, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center for Urban Water Recycling and Environmental Safety, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, 518055, Guangdong, China
| | - Yi Liu
- Membrane & Nanotechnology-Enabled Water Treatment Center, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center for Urban Water Recycling and Environmental Safety, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, 518055, Guangdong, China
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Shaoze Zhang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Vacuum Metallurgy, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650093, Yunnan, China
| | - Can Yu
- Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Kostya Ken Ostrikov
- School of Chemistry and Physics, QUT Centre for Materials Science, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Queensland, 4000, Australia
| | - Zhenghua Zhang
- Membrane & Nanotechnology-Enabled Water Treatment Center, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center for Urban Water Recycling and Environmental Safety, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, 518055, Guangdong, China.
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
- School of Chemistry and Physics, QUT Centre for Materials Science, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Queensland, 4000, Australia.
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33
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Li L, Ling J, Zhang D, Wang N, Lin J, Xi Z, Xu W. Direct measurement of built-in electric field inside a 2D cavity. J Chem Phys 2024; 160:011102. [PMID: 38174792 DOI: 10.1063/5.0180444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The on-demand assembly of 2D heterostructures has brought about both novel interfacial physical chemistry and optoelectronic applications; however, existing studies rarely focus on the complementary part-the 2D cavity, which is a new-born area with unprecedented opportunities. In this study, we have investigated the electric field inside a spacer-free 2D cavity consisting of a monolayer semiconductor and a gold film substrate. We have directly captured the built-in electric field crossing a blinking 2D cavity using a Kelvin probe force microscopy-Raman system. The simultaneously recorded morphology (M), electric field (E), and optical spectroscopy (O) mapping profile unambiguously reveals dynamical fluctuations of the interfacial electric field under a constant cavity height. Moreover, we have also prepared non-blinking 2D cavities and analyzed the gap-dependent electric field evolution with a gradual heating procedure, which further enhances the maximum electric field exceeding 109 V/m. Our work has revealed substantial insights into the built-in electric field within a 2D cavity, which will benefit adventures in electric-field-dependent interfacial sciences and future applications of 2D chemical nanoreactors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Li
- Key Laboratory of Mesoscopic Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Jinyang Ling
- Key Laboratory of Mesoscopic Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Dongxu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Mesoscopic Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Nanyang Wang
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Jiamin Lin
- Key Laboratory of Mesoscopic Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Zhonghua Xi
- Key Laboratory of Mesoscopic Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Weigao Xu
- Key Laboratory of Mesoscopic Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
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34
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Wang Z, Huang Y, Zhang T, Xu K, Liu X, Zhang A, Xu Y, Zhou X, Dai J, Jiang Z, Zhang G, Liu H, Xia BY. Unipolar Solution Flow in Calcium-Organic Frameworks for Seawater-Evaporation-Induced Electricity Generation. J Am Chem Soc 2024. [PMID: 38176108 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c13159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
Seawater-flow- and -evaporation-induced electricity generation holds significant promise in advancing next-generation sustainable energy technologies. This method relies on the electrokinetic effect but faces substantial limitations when operating in a highly ion-concentrated environment, for example, natural seawater. We present herein a novel solution using calcium-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs, C12H6Ca2O19·2H2O) for seawater-evaporation-induced electricity generation. Remarkably, Ca-MOFs show an open-circuit voltage of 0.4 V and a short-circuit current of 14 μA when immersed in seawater under natural conditions. Our experiments and simulations revealed that sodium (Na) ions selectively transport within sub-nanochannels of these synthetic superhydrophilic MOFs. This selective ion transport engenders a unipolar solution flow, which drives the electricity generation behavior in seawater. This work not only showcases an effective Ca-MOF for electricity generation through seawater flow/evaporation but also contributes significantly to our understanding of water-driven energy harvesting technologies and their potential applications beyond this specific context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengyun Wang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage (Ministry of Education), Hubei Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry and Service Failure, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), 1037 Luoyu Rd, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Yuchen Huang
- Équipe Chimie Inorganique, ICCMO, Université Paris Saclay, 17 Av. des Sciences, Orsay 91400, France
| | - Tiansui Zhang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage (Ministry of Education), Hubei Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry and Service Failure, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), 1037 Luoyu Rd, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Kunqi Xu
- Key Laboratory of Artificial Structures and Quantum Control (Ministry of Education), School of Physics and Astronomy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Rd, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Xiaoling Liu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage (Ministry of Education), Hubei Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry and Service Failure, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), 1037 Luoyu Rd, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Airong Zhang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage (Ministry of Education), Hubei Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry and Service Failure, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), 1037 Luoyu Rd, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - You Xu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage (Ministry of Education), Hubei Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry and Service Failure, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), 1037 Luoyu Rd, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Xue Zhou
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, 299 Bayi Rd, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Jiawei Dai
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage (Ministry of Education), Hubei Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry and Service Failure, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), 1037 Luoyu Rd, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Zhineng Jiang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage (Ministry of Education), Hubei Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry and Service Failure, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), 1037 Luoyu Rd, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Guoan Zhang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage (Ministry of Education), Hubei Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry and Service Failure, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), 1037 Luoyu Rd, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Hongfang Liu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage (Ministry of Education), Hubei Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry and Service Failure, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), 1037 Luoyu Rd, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Bao Yu Xia
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage (Ministry of Education), Hubei Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry and Service Failure, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), 1037 Luoyu Rd, Wuhan 430074, China
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35
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Ronceray N, Spina M, Chou VHY, Lim CT, Geim AK, Garaj S. Elastocapillarity-driven 2D nano-switches enable zeptoliter-scale liquid encapsulation. Nat Commun 2024; 15:185. [PMID: 38167702 PMCID: PMC10762047 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44200-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Biological nanostructures change their shape and function in response to external stimuli, and significant efforts have been made to design artificial biomimicking devices operating on similar principles. In this work we demonstrate a programmable nanofluidic switch, driven by elastocapillarity, and based on nanochannels built from layered two-dimensional nanomaterials possessing atomically smooth surfaces and exceptional mechanical properties. We explore operational modes of the nanoswitch and develop a theoretical framework to explain the phenomenon. By predicting the switching-reversibility phase diagram-based on material, interfacial and wetting properties, as well as the geometry of the nanofluidic circuit-we rationally design switchable nano-capsules capable of enclosing zeptoliter volumes of liquid, as small as the volumes enclosed in viruses. The nanoswitch will find useful application as an active element in integrated nanofluidic circuitry and could be used to explore nanoconfined chemistry and biochemistry, or be incorporated into shape-programmable materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Ronceray
- Department of Physics, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117551, Singapore
- Centre for Advanced 2D Materials, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117542, Singapore
| | - Massimo Spina
- Department of Physics, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117551, Singapore
- Centre for Advanced 2D Materials, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117542, Singapore
| | - Vanessa Hui Yin Chou
- Centre for Advanced 2D Materials, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117542, Singapore
| | - Chwee Teck Lim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117583, Singapore
- Institute for Health Innovation and Technology (iHealthtech), National University of Singapore, Singapore, 119276, Singapore
- Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117411, Singapore
| | - Andre K Geim
- National Graphene Institute, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Slaven Garaj
- Department of Physics, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117551, Singapore.
- Centre for Advanced 2D Materials, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117542, Singapore.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117583, Singapore.
- Department of Material Science Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117575, Singapore.
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36
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Bhardwaj A, Surmani Martins MV, You Y, Sajja R, Rimmer M, Goutham S, Qi R, Abbas Dar S, Radha B, Keerthi A. Fabrication of angstrom-scale two-dimensional channels for mass transport. Nat Protoc 2024; 19:240-280. [PMID: 38012396 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-023-00911-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Fluidic channels at atomic scales regulate cellular trafficking and molecular filtration across membranes, and thus play crucial roles in the functioning of living systems. However, constructing synthetic channels experimentally at these scales has been a significant challenge due to the limitations in nanofabrication techniques and the surface roughness of the commonly used materials. Angstrom (Å)-scale slit-like channels overcome such challenges as these are made with precise control over their dimensions and can be used to study the fluidic properties of gases, ions and water at unprecedented scales. Here we provide a detailed fabrication method of the two-dimensional Å-scale channel devices that can be assembled to contain a desired number of channels, a single channel or up to hundreds of channels, made with atomic-scale precision using layered crystals. The procedure includes the fabrication of the substrate, flake, spacer layer, flake transfers, van der Waals assembly and postprocessing. We further explain how to perform molecular transport measurements with the Å-channels to directly probe the intriguing and anomalous phenomena that help shed light on the physics governing ultra-confined transport. The procedure requires a total of 1-2 weeks for the fabrication of the two-dimensional channel device and is suitable for users with prior experience in clean room working environments and nanofabrication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankit Bhardwaj
- National Graphene Institute, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, School of Natural Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Marcos Vinicius Surmani Martins
- National Graphene Institute, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, School of Natural Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Yi You
- National Graphene Institute, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, School of Natural Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Ravalika Sajja
- National Graphene Institute, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, School of Natural Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Max Rimmer
- National Graphene Institute, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, School of Natural Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Solleti Goutham
- National Graphene Institute, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, School of Natural Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Rongrong Qi
- National Graphene Institute, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, School of Natural Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Sidra Abbas Dar
- National Graphene Institute, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, School of Natural Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Boya Radha
- National Graphene Institute, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, School of Natural Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
| | - Ashok Keerthi
- National Graphene Institute, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
- Department of Chemistry, School of Natural Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
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37
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Qiu Z, Chen J, Zeng J, Dai R, Wang Z. A review on artificial water channels incorporated polyamide membranes for water purification: Transport mechanisms and performance. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 247:120774. [PMID: 37898000 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/30/2023]
Abstract
While thin-film composite (TFC) polyamide (PA) membranes are advanced for removing salts and trace organic contaminants (TrOCs) from water, TFC PA membranes encounter a water permeance-selectivity trade-off due to PA layer structural characteristics. Drawing inspiration from the excellent water permeance and solute rejection of natural biological channels, the development of analogous artificial water channels (AWCs) in TFC PA membranes (abbreviated as AWCM) promises to achieve superior mass transfer efficiency, enabling breaking the upper bound of water permeance and selectivity. Herein, we first discussed the types and structural characteristics of AWCs, followed by summarizing the methods for constructing AWCM. We discussed whether the AWCs acted as the primary mass transfer channels in AWCM and emphasized the important role of the AWCs in water transport and ion/TrOCs rejection. We thoroughly summarized the molecular-level mechanisms and structure-performance relationship of water molecules, ions, and TrOCs transport in the confined nanospace of AWCs, which laid the foundation for illustrating the enhanced water permeance and salt/TrOCs selectivity of AWCM. Finally, we discussed the challenges encountered in the field of AWCM and proposed future perspectives for practical applications. This review is expected to offer guidance for understanding the transport mechanisms of AWCM and developing next-generation membrane for effective water treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiwei Qiu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, PR China
| | - Jiansuxuan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, PR China
| | - Jin Zeng
- School of Software Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 201804, PR China
| | - Ruobin Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, PR China.
| | - Zhiwei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, PR China
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38
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Escobar J, Molina J, Gil-Santos E, Ruz JJ, Malvar Ó, Kosaka PM, Tamayo J, San Paulo Á, Calleja M. Nanomechanical Sensing for Mass Flow Control in Nanowire-Based Open Nanofluidic Systems. ACS NANO 2023; 17:21044-21055. [PMID: 37903505 PMCID: PMC10655260 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c04020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/01/2023]
Abstract
Open nanofluidic systems, where liquids flow along the outer surface of nanoscale structures, provide otherwise unfeasible capabilities for extremely miniaturized liquid handling applications. A critical step toward fully functional applications is to obtain quantitative mass flow control. We demonstrate the application of nanomechanical sensing for this purpose by integrating voltage-driven liquid flow along nanowire open channels with mass detection based on flexural resonators. This approach is validated by assembling the nanowires with microcantilever resonators, enabling high-precision control of larger flows, and by using the nanowires as resonators themselves, allowing extremely small liquid volume handling. Both implementations are demonstrated by characterizing voltage-driven flow of ionic liquids along the surface of the nanowires. We find a voltage range where mass flow rate follows a nonlinear monotonic increase, establishing a steady flow regime for which we show mass flow control at rates from below 1 ag/s to above 100 fg/s and precise liquid handling down to the zeptoliter scale. The observed behavior of mass flow rate is consistent with a voltage-induced transition from static wetting to dynamic spreading as the mechanism underlying liquid transport along the nanowires.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier
E. Escobar
- Instituto
de Micro y Nanotecnología (IMN-CNM, CSIC), Isaac Newton 8, 28760 Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan Molina
- Instituto
de Micro y Nanotecnología (IMN-CNM, CSIC), Isaac Newton 8, 28760 Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Eduardo Gil-Santos
- Instituto
de Micro y Nanotecnología (IMN-CNM, CSIC), Isaac Newton 8, 28760 Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - José J. Ruz
- Instituto
de Micro y Nanotecnología (IMN-CNM, CSIC), Isaac Newton 8, 28760 Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Óscar Malvar
- Instituto
de Micro y Nanotecnología (IMN-CNM, CSIC), Isaac Newton 8, 28760 Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Priscila M. Kosaka
- Instituto
de Micro y Nanotecnología (IMN-CNM, CSIC), Isaac Newton 8, 28760 Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Tamayo
- Instituto
de Micro y Nanotecnología (IMN-CNM, CSIC), Isaac Newton 8, 28760 Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Álvaro San Paulo
- Instituto
de Micro y Nanotecnología (IMN-CNM, CSIC), Isaac Newton 8, 28760 Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Montserrat Calleja
- Instituto
de Micro y Nanotecnología (IMN-CNM, CSIC), Isaac Newton 8, 28760 Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
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39
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Noh Y, Aluru NR. Scaling of ionic conductance in a fluctuating single-layer nanoporous membrane. Sci Rep 2023; 13:19813. [PMID: 37957224 PMCID: PMC10643653 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-46962-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Single-layer membranes have emerged as promising candidates for applications requiring high transport rates due to their low resistance to molecular transport. Owing to their atomically thin structure, these membranes experience significant microscopic fluctuations, emphasizing the need to explore their impact on ion transport processes. In this study, we investigate the effects of membrane fluctuations on the elementary scaling behavior of ion conductance [Formula: see text] as a function of ion concentration [Formula: see text], represented as [Formula: see text], using molecular dynamics simulations. Our findings reveal that membrane fluctuations not only alter the conductance coefficient [Formula: see text] but also the power-law exponent [Formula: see text]. We identify two distinct frequency regimes of membrane fluctuations, GHz-scale and THz-scale fluctuations, and examine their roles in conductance scaling. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the alteration of conductance scaling arises from the non-linearity between ion conductance and membrane shape. This work provides a fundamental understanding of ion transport in fluctuating membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yechan Noh
- Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - N R Aluru
- Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering, Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, 78712, USA.
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40
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Si L, Wu Y, Xiao H, Xing W, Song R, Li Y, Wang S, Liang X, Yu W, Song J, Shen S. A superstable, flexible, and scalable nanofluidic ion regulation composite membrane. Sci Bull (Beijing) 2023; 68:2344-2353. [PMID: 37684133 DOI: 10.1016/j.scib.2023.08.060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
Two-dimensional layered membranes with high and stable ion transport properties have various applications in nanofluidic devices; however, their construction remains a considerable challenge. Herein, we develop a superstable aramid nanofiber/graphite composite membrane with numerous one-dimensional and two-dimensional nano-confined interspaces for ultrafast ion transport. The fabricated flexible and scalable membrane exhibits high tensile strength (∼115.3 MPa) even after immersion in water for 90 days. Further, the aramid nanofiber/graphite conductor features the surface-charge-governed ion transport behavior. The ionic conductivity of the membrane at a low potassium chloride concentration of 10-4 mol/L can be enhanced by 16 times that of the bulk counterpart. More importantly, its structure and ionic conductivity remain unchanged even after immersion in different harsh solutions (e.g., acid, base, and ethanol) for over 30 days. Molecular dynamics simulations reveal that the superstability of the membrane is attributable to the robust interchain interactions within the aramid nanofibers and the strong interfacial interactions between the aramid nanofibers and graphite nanosheets. This study highlights the superior structural stability of the proposed flexible and scalable aramid nanofiber/graphite composite membrane, which could be employed in advanced nanofluidic devices for application under extreme working environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lianmeng Si
- State Key Laboratory for Strength and Vibration of Mechanical Structures, School of Aerospace Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China
| | - Yihan Wu
- State Key Laboratory for Strength and Vibration of Mechanical Structures, School of Aerospace Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China
| | - Hong Xiao
- State Key Laboratory for Strength and Vibration of Mechanical Structures, School of Aerospace Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China
| | - Wensi Xing
- State Key Laboratory for Strength and Vibration of Mechanical Structures, School of Aerospace Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China
| | - Rui Song
- State Key Laboratory for Strength and Vibration of Mechanical Structures, School of Aerospace Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China
| | - Yiju Li
- Department of Mechanical and Energy Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China.
| | - Sha Wang
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Xu Liang
- State Key Laboratory for Strength and Vibration of Mechanical Structures, School of Aerospace Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China
| | - Wenshan Yu
- State Key Laboratory for Strength and Vibration of Mechanical Structures, School of Aerospace Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China.
| | - Jianwei Song
- State Key Laboratory for Strength and Vibration of Mechanical Structures, School of Aerospace Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China.
| | - Shengping Shen
- State Key Laboratory for Strength and Vibration of Mechanical Structures, School of Aerospace Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China
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Zhang Q, Gao B, Zhang L, Liu X, Cui J, Cao Y, Zeng H, Xu Q, Cui X, Jiang L. Anomalous water molecular gating from atomic-scale graphene capillaries for precise and ultrafast molecular sieving. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6615. [PMID: 37857626 PMCID: PMC10587158 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42401-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The pressing crisis of clean water shortage requires membranes to possess effective ion sieving as well as fast water flux. However, effective ion sieving demands reduction of pore size, which inevitably hinders water flux in hydrophilic membranes, posing a major challenge for efficient water/ion separation. Herein, we introduce anomalous water molecular gating based on nanofiltration membranes full of graphene capillaries at 6 Å, which were fabricated from spontaneous π-π restacking of island-on-nanosheet graphitic microstructures. We found that the membrane can provide effective ion sieving by suppressing osmosis-driven ion diffusion to negligible levels (~10-4 mol m-2 h-1); unexpectedly, ultrafast bulk flow of water (45.4 L m-2 h-1) was still functional with ease, as gated on/off by adjusting hydrostatic pressures within only 10-2 bar. We attribute this seemingly incompatible observation to graphene nanoconfinement effect, where crystal-like water confined within the capillaries hinders diffusion under osmosis but facilitates high-speed, diffusion-free water transport in the way analogous to Newton's cradle-like Grotthus conduction. This strategy establishes a type of liquid-solid-liquid, phase-changing molecular transport for precise and ultrafast molecular sieving.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Zhang
- Henan Institute of Advanced Technology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450003, PR China
| | - Bo Gao
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, PR China
| | - Ling Zhang
- School of Chemical Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, PR China
| | - Xiaopeng Liu
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, PR China
| | - Jixiang Cui
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, PR China
| | - Yijun Cao
- School of Chemical Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, PR China
| | - Hongbo Zeng
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1H9, Canada.
| | - Qun Xu
- Henan Institute of Advanced Technology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450003, PR China.
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, PR China.
| | - Xinwei Cui
- Henan Institute of Advanced Technology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450003, PR China.
| | - Lei Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, PR China
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42
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Robin P, Lizée M, Yang Q, Emmerich T, Siria A, Bocquet L. Disentangling 1/ f noise from confined ion dynamics. Faraday Discuss 2023; 246:556-575. [PMID: 37449958 DOI: 10.1039/d3fd00035d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Ion transport through biological and solid-state nanochannels is known to be a highly noisy process. The power spectrum of current fluctuations is empirically known to scale like the inverse of frequency, following the long-standing yet poorly understood Hooge's law. Here, we report measurements of current fluctuations across nanometer-scale two-dimensional channels with different surface properties. The structure of fluctuations is found to depend on the channel's material. While in pristine channels current fluctuations scale like 1/f1+a with a = 0-0.5, the noise power spectrum of activated graphite channels displays different regimes depending on frequency. Based on these observations, we develop a theoretical formalism directly linking ion dynamics and current fluctuations. We predict that the noise power spectrum takes the form 1/f × Schannel(f), where 1/f fluctuations emerge in fluidic reservoirs on both sides of the channel and Schannel describes fluctuations inside it. Deviations to Hooge's law thus allow direct access to the ion transport dynamics of the channel - explaining the entire phenomenology observed in experiments on 2D nanochannels. Our results demonstrate how current fluctuations can be used to characterize nanoscale ion dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Robin
- Laboratoire de Physique de l'École Normale Supérieure, ENS, Université PSL, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris-Cité, Paris, France.
| | - Mathieu Lizée
- Laboratoire de Physique de l'École Normale Supérieure, ENS, Université PSL, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris-Cité, Paris, France.
| | - Qian Yang
- National Graphene Institute, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Théo Emmerich
- Laboratory of Nanoscale Biology, Institute of Bioengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Alessandro Siria
- Laboratoire de Physique de l'École Normale Supérieure, ENS, Université PSL, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris-Cité, Paris, France.
| | - Lydéric Bocquet
- Laboratoire de Physique de l'École Normale Supérieure, ENS, Université PSL, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris-Cité, Paris, France.
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43
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Kim S, Choi H, Kim B, Lim G, Kim T, Lee M, Ra H, Yeom J, Kim M, Kim E, Hwang J, Lee JS, Shim W. Extreme Ion-Transport Inorganic 2D Membranes for Nanofluidic Applications. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023; 35:e2206354. [PMID: 36112951 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202206354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 08/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Inorganic 2D materials offer a new approach to controlling mass diffusion at the nanoscale. Controlling ion transport in nanofluidics is key to energy conversion, energy storage, water purification, and numerous other applications wherein persistent challenges for efficient separation must be addressed. The recent development of 2D membranes in the emerging field of energy harvesting, water desalination, and proton/Li-ion production in the context of green energy and environmental technology is herein discussed. The fundamental mechanisms, 2D membrane fabrication, and challenges toward practical applications are highlighted. Finally, the fundamental issues of thermodynamics and kinetics are outlined along with potential membrane designs that must be resolved to bridge the gap between lab-scale experiments and production levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sungsoon Kim
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
- Center for Multi-Dimensional Materials, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Hong Choi
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
- Center for Multi-Dimensional Materials, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Bokyeong Kim
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
- Center for Multi-Dimensional Materials, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Geonwoo Lim
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
- Center for Multi-Dimensional Materials, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Taehoon Kim
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
- Center for Multi-Dimensional Materials, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Minwoo Lee
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
- Center for Multi-Dimensional Materials, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Hansol Ra
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
- Center for Multi-Dimensional Materials, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Jihun Yeom
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
- Center for Multi-Dimensional Materials, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Minjun Kim
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
- Center for Multi-Dimensional Materials, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Eohjin Kim
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
- Center for Multi-Dimensional Materials, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Jiyoung Hwang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
- IT Materials Division, Advanced Materials Company, LG Chem R&D Campus, Daejeon, 34122, Republic of Korea
| | - Joo Sung Lee
- Separator Division, Advanced Materials Company, LG Chem R&D Campus, Daejeon, 34122, Republic of Korea
| | - Wooyoung Shim
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
- Center for Multi-Dimensional Materials, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
- Center for NanoMedicine, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
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Ronceray N, You Y, Glushkov E, Lihter M, Rehl B, Chen TH, Nam GH, Borza F, Watanabe K, Taniguchi T, Roke S, Keerthi A, Comtet J, Radha B, Radenovic A. Liquid-activated quantum emission from pristine hexagonal boron nitride for nanofluidic sensing. NATURE MATERIALS 2023; 22:1236-1242. [PMID: 37652991 PMCID: PMC10533396 DOI: 10.1038/s41563-023-01658-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Liquids confined down to the atomic scale can show radically new properties. However, only indirect and ensemble measurements operate in such extreme confinement, calling for novel optical approaches that enable direct imaging at the molecular level. Here we harness fluorescence originating from single-photon emitters at the surface of hexagonal boron nitride for molecular imaging and sensing in nanometrically confined liquids. The emission originates from the chemisorption of organic solvent molecules onto native surface defects, revealing single-molecule dynamics at the interface through the spatially correlated activation of neighbouring defects. Emitter spectra further offer a direct readout of the local dielectric properties, unveiling increasing dielectric order under nanometre-scale confinement. Liquid-activated native hexagonal boron nitride defects bridge the gap between solid-state nanophotonics and nanofluidics, opening new avenues for nanoscale sensing and optofluidics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Ronceray
- Laboratory of Nanoscale Biology, Institute of Bioengineering (IBI), School of Engineering (STI), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland.
- Laboratory for Fundamental BioPhotonics, Institute of Bioengineering (IBI), School of Engineering (STI), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Yi You
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, School of Natural Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- National Graphene Institute, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Evgenii Glushkov
- Laboratory of Nanoscale Biology, Institute of Bioengineering (IBI), School of Engineering (STI), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Martina Lihter
- Laboratory of Nanoscale Biology, Institute of Bioengineering (IBI), School of Engineering (STI), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
- Institute of Physics, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Benjamin Rehl
- Laboratory for Fundamental BioPhotonics, Institute of Bioengineering (IBI), School of Engineering (STI), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Tzu-Heng Chen
- Laboratory of Nanoscale Biology, Institute of Bioengineering (IBI), School of Engineering (STI), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Gwang-Hyeon Nam
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, School of Natural Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- National Graphene Institute, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Fanny Borza
- Laboratory of Nanoscale Biology, Institute of Bioengineering (IBI), School of Engineering (STI), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Kenji Watanabe
- Research Center for Electronic and Optical Materials, National Institute for Materials Science, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Takashi Taniguchi
- Research Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics, National Institute for Materials Science, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Sylvie Roke
- Laboratory for Fundamental BioPhotonics, Institute of Bioengineering (IBI), School of Engineering (STI), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Ashok Keerthi
- National Graphene Institute, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Department of Chemistry, School of Natural Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Jean Comtet
- Soft Matter Sciences and Engineering, ESPCI Paris, PSL University, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Boya Radha
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, School of Natural Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
- National Graphene Institute, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
| | - Aleksandra Radenovic
- Laboratory of Nanoscale Biology, Institute of Bioengineering (IBI), School of Engineering (STI), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland.
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45
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Holey H, Gumbsch P, Pastewka L. Confinement-Induced Diffusive Sound Transport in Nanoscale Fluidic Channels. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2023; 131:084001. [PMID: 37683151 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.131.084001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have been widely used to study flow at molecular scales. Most of this work is devoted to study the departure from continuum fluid mechanics as the confining dimension decreases. Here, we present MD results under conditions where hydrodynamic descriptions typically apply, but focus on the influence of in-plane wavelengths. Probing the long wavelength limit in thermodynamic equilibrium, we observed anomalous relaxation of the density and longitudinal momentum fluctuations. The limiting behavior can be described by an effective continuum theory that describes a transition to overdamped sound relaxation for compressible fluids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannes Holey
- Institute for Applied Materials, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Straße am Forum 7, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
- Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK), University of Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee 103, 79110 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Peter Gumbsch
- Institute for Applied Materials, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Straße am Forum 7, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
- Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials IWM, Wöhlerstraße 11, 79108 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Lars Pastewka
- Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK), University of Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee 103, 79110 Freiburg, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence livMatS, Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies, University of Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee 105, 79110 Freiburg, Germany
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46
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Rezlerová E, Moučka F, Předota M, Lísal M. Structure and self-diffusivity of alkali-halide electrolytes in neutral and charged graphene nanochannels. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2023; 25:21579-21594. [PMID: 37548441 DOI: 10.1039/d3cp03027j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the microscopic behaviour of aqueous electrolyte solutions in graphene-based ultrathin nanochannels is important in nanofluidic applications such as water purification, fuel cells, and molecular sensing. Under extreme confinement (<2 nm), the properties of water and ions differ drastically from those in the bulk phase. We studied the structural and diffusion behaviour of prototypical aqueous solutions of electrolytes (LiCl, NaCl, and KCl) confined in both neutral and positively-, and negatively-charged graphene nanochannels. We performed molecular dynamics simulations of the solutions in the nanochannels with either one, two- or three-layer water structures using the effectively polarisable force field for graphene. We analysed the structure and intermolecular bond network of the confined solutions along with their relation to the self-diffusivity of water and ions. The simulations show that Na and K cations can more easily rearrange their solvation shells under the graphene nanoconfinement and adsorb on the graphene surfaces or dissolve in the confinement-induced layered water than the Li cation. The negative surface charge together with the presence of ions orient water molecules with hydrogens towards the graphene surfaces, which in turn weakens the intermolecular bond network. The one-layer nanochannels have the biggest effect on the water structure and intermolecular bonding as well as on the adsorption of ions with only co-ions entering these nanochannels. The self-diffusivity of confined water is strongly reduced with respect to the bulk water and decreases with diminishing nanochannel heights except for the negatively-charged one-layer nanochannel. The self-diffusivity of ions also decreases with the reducing the nanochannel heights except for the self-diffusivity of cations in the negatively-charged one-layer nanochannel, evidencing cooperative diffusion of confined water and ions. Due to the significant break-up of the intermolecular bond network in the negatively-charged one-layer nanochannel, self-diffusion coefficients of water and cations exceed those for the two- and three-layer nanochannels and become comparable to the bulk values.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliška Rezlerová
- Research Group of Molecular and Mesoscopic Modelling, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Chemical Process Fundamentals, Prague, Czech Republic.
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Úst nad Labem, Ústín. Lab., Czech Republic
| | - Filip Moučka
- Research Group of Molecular and Mesoscopic Modelling, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Chemical Process Fundamentals, Prague, Czech Republic.
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Úst nad Labem, Ústín. Lab., Czech Republic
| | - Milan Předota
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budě jovice, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Lísal
- Research Group of Molecular and Mesoscopic Modelling, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Chemical Process Fundamentals, Prague, Czech Republic.
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Úst nad Labem, Ústín. Lab., Czech Republic
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47
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Zhang X, Tu B, Cao Z, Fang M, Zhang G, Yang J, Ying Y, Sun Z, Hou J, Fang Q, Tang Z, Li L. Anomalous Mechanical and Electrical Interplay in a Covalent Organic Framework Monolayer Membrane. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:17786-17794. [PMID: 37537964 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c04655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
Ion transport through nanoconfinement, driven by both electrical and mechanical forces, has drawn ever-increasing attention, due to its high similarity to stress-sensitive ion channels in biological systems. Previous studies have reported only pressure-induced enhancement in ion conductance in low-permeable systems such as nanotubes, nanoslits, or single nanopores. This enhancement is generally explained by the ion accumulation caused by the capacitive effect in low-permeable systems. Here, we fabricate a highly permeable COF monolayer membrane to investigate ion transport behavior driven by both electrical and mechanical forces. Our results show an anomalous conductance reduction activated by external mechanical force, which is contrary to the capacitive effect-dominated conductance enhancement observed in low-permeable nanopores or channels. Through simulations, we uncovered a distinct electrical-mechanical interplay mechanism that depends on the relative rate between the ion diffusion from the boundary layer to the membrane surface and the ion transport through the membrane. The high pore density of the COF monolayer membrane reduces the charge accumulation caused by the capacitive effect, resulting in fewer accumulated ions near the membrane surface. Additionally, the high membrane permeability greatly accelerates the dissipation of the accumulated ions under mechanical pressure, weakening the effect of the capacitive layer on the streaming current. As a result, the ions accumulated on the electrodes, rather than in the capacitive layer, dominating the streaming current and giving rise to a distinct electrical-mechanical interplay mechanism compared to that in low-permeable nanopores or channels. Our study provides new insights into the interplay between electrical and mechanical forces in ultra-permeable systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaopeng Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Nanosystem and Hierarchical Fabrication, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Centre for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
| | - Bin Tu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Nanosystem and Hierarchical Fabrication, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Centre for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Zhouwen Cao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Nanosystem and Hierarchical Fabrication, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Centre for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Munan Fang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Nanosystem and Hierarchical Fabrication, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Centre for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Guangjie Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Nanosystem and Hierarchical Fabrication, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Centre for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Jinlei Yang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Nanosystem and Hierarchical Fabrication, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Centre for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Yue Ying
- CAS Key Laboratory of Nanosystem and Hierarchical Fabrication, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Centre for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Zhifei Sun
- CAS Key Laboratory of Nanosystem and Hierarchical Fabrication, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Centre for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Junjun Hou
- CAS Key Laboratory of Nanosystem and Hierarchical Fabrication, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Centre for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Qiaojun Fang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Nanosystem and Hierarchical Fabrication, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Centre for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Zhiyong Tang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Nanosystem and Hierarchical Fabrication, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Centre for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Lianshan Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Nanosystem and Hierarchical Fabrication, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Centre for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
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48
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Wang L, Zhang W, Deng Y. Advances and Challenges for Hydrovoltaic Intelligence. ACS NANO 2023. [PMID: 37506225 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c02043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, excessive exploitation and rapid population growth have posed numerous challenges. The climate crisis is deepening because of the unabated use of fossil fuels and the ascendance of greenhouse gas levels, so there is still an urgent need to seek different clean energy sources and electricity generating methods with the purpose of adjusting energy structures and solving environmental problems. In the ubiquitous hydrologic cycle, at least 60 petawatts (1015 W) energy can be supplied, but little of it has yet been utilized. Nowadays, hydrovoltaic intelligence has emerged and exhibited an ecofriendly concept of electricity generation compared with traditional methods with the rise of nanoscience and nanomaterials. Hence, it provides the prospect of upgrading the mode of water energy use, constructing a renewable energy industry, and alleviating environmental issues. In this review, starting by introducing different types of hydrovoltaic effect mechanisms─energy harvesting based on drawing potential of liquids; energy harvesting based on water evaporation, and energy harvesting based on moisture adsorption─we summarize the fabrication processes, material classifications, intelligent applications, and representative advances in detail. Moreover, the future development trends of hydrovoltaic intelligence and the challenges for improvement in electrical output are further discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luomin Wang
- Research Institute for Frontier Science, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent Sensing Materials and Chip Integration Technology of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Innovation Institute of Beihang University, Hangzhou 310051, China
| | - Weifeng Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent Sensing Materials and Chip Integration Technology of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Innovation Institute of Beihang University, Hangzhou 310051, China
| | - Yuan Deng
- Research Institute for Frontier Science, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent Sensing Materials and Chip Integration Technology of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Innovation Institute of Beihang University, Hangzhou 310051, China
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49
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Lin B, Jiang J, Zeng XC, Li L. Temperature-pressure phase diagram of confined monolayer water/ice at first-principles accuracy with a machine-learning force field. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4110. [PMID: 37433823 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39829-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding the phase behaviour of nanoconfined water films is of fundamental importance in broad fields of science and engineering. However, the phase behaviour of the thinnest water film - monolayer water - is still incompletely known. Here, we developed a machine-learning force field (MLFF) at first-principles accuracy to determine the phase diagram of monolayer water/ice in nanoconfinement with hydrophobic walls. We observed the spontaneous formation of two previously unreported high-density ices, namely, zigzag quasi-bilayer ice (ZZ-qBI) and branched-zigzag quasi-bilayer ice (bZZ-qBI). Unlike conventional bilayer ices, few inter-layer hydrogen bonds were observed in both quasi-bilayer ices. Notably, the bZZ-qBI entails a unique hydrogen-bonding network that consists of two distinctive types of hydrogen bonds. Moreover, we identified, for the first time, the stable region for the lowest-density [Formula: see text] monolayer ice (LD-48MI) at negative pressures (<-0.3 GPa). Overall, the MLFF enables large-scale first-principle-level molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of the spontaneous transition from the liquid water to a plethora of monolayer ices, including hexagonal, pentagonal, square, zigzag (ZZMI), and hexatic monolayer ices. These findings will enrich our understanding of the phase behaviour of the nanoconfined water/ices and provide a guide for future experimental realization of the 2D ices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Lin
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Oxide Materials and Devices, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, China
| | - Jian Jiang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, 999077, Hong Kong
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588, USA
| | - Xiao Cheng Zeng
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, 999077, Hong Kong.
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588, USA.
| | - Lei Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Oxide Materials and Devices, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, China.
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Miao W, Tian S, Yuan Q, Tian Y, Jiang L. Direct observation of spreading precursor liquids in a corner. Natl Sci Rev 2023; 10:nwad119. [PMID: 37266559 PMCID: PMC10232046 DOI: 10.1093/nsr/nwad119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Precursor liquid is a nanoscale liquid creeping ahead of the macroscopic edge of spreading liquids, whose behaviors tightly correlate with the three-phase reaction efficiency and patterning accuracy. However, the important spatial-temporal characteristic of the precursor liquid still remains obscure because its real-time spreading process has not been directly observed. Here, we report that the spreading ionic liquid precursors in a silicon corner can be directly captured on video using in situ scanning electron microscopy. In situ spreading videos show that the precursor liquid spreads linearly over time ([Formula: see text]) rather than obeying the classic Lucas-Washburn law ([Formula: see text]) and possesses a characteristic width of ∼250-310 nm. Theoretical analyses and molecular dynamics simulations demonstrate that the unique behaviors of precursor liquids originate from the competing effect of van der Waals force and surface energy. These findings provide avenues for directly observing liquid/solid interfacial phenomena on a microscopic level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weining Miao
- Key Laboratory of Bioinspired Smart Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Shihao Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Nonlinear Mechanics, Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- School of Engineering Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | | | - Ye Tian
- Corresponding author. E-mail:
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