Engineering solid nanochannels with macrocyclic host-guest chemistry for stimuli responses and molecular separations

Guard Cell-Inspired Ion Channels: Harnessing the Photomechanical Effect via Supramolecular Assembly of Cross-Linked Azobenzene/Polymers

Stimuli-responsive ion nanochannels have attracted considerable attention in various fields because of their remote controllability of ionic transportation. For photoresponsive ion nanochannels, however, achieving precise regulation of ion conductivity is still challenging, primarily due to the difficulty of programmable structural changes in confined environments. Moreover, the relationship between noncontact photo-stimulation in nanoscale and light-induced ion conductivity has not been well understood. In this work, a versatile design for fabricating guard cell-inspired photoswitchable ion channels is presented by infiltrating azobenzene-cross-linked polymer (AAZO-PDAC) into nanoporous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membranes. The azobenzene-cross-linked polymer is formed by azobenzene chromophore (AAZO)-cross-linked poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDAC) with electrostatic interactions. Under UV irradiation, the trans-AAZO isomerizes to the cis-AAZO, causing the volume compression of the polymer network, whereas, in darkness, the cis-AAZO reverts to the trans-AAZO, leading to the recovery of the structure. Consequently, the resultant nanopore sizes can be manipulated by the photomechanical effect of the AAZO-PDAC polymers. By adding ionic liquids, the ion conductivity of the light-driven ion nanochannels can be controlled with good repeatability and fast responses (within seconds) in multiple cycles. The ion channels have promising potential in the applications of biomimetic materials, sensors, and biomedical sciences.

Modelling and Comparative Analysis of Different Methods of Liquid Membrane Separations

This article is devoted to a brief review of the modelling of liquid membrane separation methods, such as emulsion, supported liquid membranes, film pertraction, and three-phase and multi-phase extraction. Mathematical models and comparative analyses of liquid membrane separations with different flow modes of contacting liquid phases are presented. A comparison of the processes of conventional and liquid membrane separations is carried out under the following assumptions: mass transfer is described by the traditional mass transfer equation; the equilibrium distribution coefficients of a component passing from one of the phases to another are constant. It is shown that, from the point of view of mass transfer driving forces, emulsion and film pertraction liquid membrane methods have advantages over the conventional conjugated extraction stripping method, when the mass-transfer efficiency of the extraction stage is significantly higher than the efficiency of the stripping stage. The comparison of the supported liquid membrane with conjugated extraction stripping showed that when mass-transfer rates on the extraction and stripping sides are different, the liquid membrane method is more efficient, while when they are equal to each other, both processes demonstrate the same results. The advantages and disadvantages of liquid membrane methods are discussed. The main disadvantages of liquid membrane methods-low throughput and complexity-can be overcome by using modified solvent extraction equipment to carry out liquid membrane separations.