Ion transport and ultra-efficient osmotic power generation in boron nitride nanotube porins.

ABSTRACT: Nanotube porins form transmembrane nanomaterial-derived scaffolds that mimic the geometry and functionality of biological membrane channels. We report synthesis, transport properties, and osmotic energy harvesting performance of another member of the nanotube porin family: boron nitride nanotube porins (BNNTPs). Cryo-transmission electron microscopy imaging, liposome transport assays, and DNA translocation experiments show that BNNTPs reconstitute into lipid membranes to form functional channels of ~2-nm diameter. Ion transport studies reveal ion conductance characteristics of individual BNNTPs, which show an unusual C^1/4 scaling with ion concentration and pronounced pH sensitivity. Reversal potential measurements indicate that BNNTPs have strong cation selectivity at neu

SUBMITTER: Li Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11378945 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature