Unexpected behaviors in molecular transport through size-controlled nanochannels down to the ultra-nanoscale.

ABSTRACT: Ionic transport through nanofluidic systems is a problem of fundamental interest in transport physics and has broad relevance in desalination, fuel cells, batteries, filtration, and drug delivery. When the dimension of the fluidic system approaches the size of molecules in solution, fluid properties are not homogeneous and a departure in behavior is observed with respect to continuum-based theories. Here we present a systematic study of the transport of charged and neutral small molecules in an ideal nanofluidic platform with precise channels from the sub-microscale to the ultra-nanoscale (<5 nm). Surprisingly, we find that diffusive transport of nano-confined neutral molecules matches that of charged molecules, as though the former carry an effective charge. Further, approaching the ultra

SUBMITTER: Bruno G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5923292 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature