Designing membranes with solid-state ion transport properties
Abstract
Hydration properties of ions- controlled by their charge and ionic radius have a decisive role in governing their transport through sub-nanometre channels. It is widely accepted that the transport of various ionic species through nano-conduits is via coordinated transport with water molecules by constantly re-arranging the hydration layers. However, some protein channels were found to be a mere exception, where the carbonyl oxygen atoms of the selectivity filters effectively replace the hydration layer of potassium ions and facilitate their unimpeded transport in partially or fully dehydrated states with a low energy barrier. One such analogous phenomenon in artificial nanochannels may be facilitated transport, where ion transport via hopping through favourable sites on the channel walls can potentially lead to counterintuitive high-rate ion/water selectivity. Here the applicant aim to design artificial nanochannels of 2D materials where ion transport will be feasible with partial or complete dehydrated forms, offering the remarkable potential to realise de-ionisation by inventively sidestepping the energy penalty for stripping hydration layers of solvated ions.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Oct 12, 2022
- Source ID
- W911NF2210254
Entities
People
- Rahul Raveendran-Nair
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- United States Army
- University of Manchester