Photosensitive ion channels in layered MXene membranes modified with plasmonic gold nanostars and cellulose nanofibers.

ABSTRACT: Ion channels transduce external stimuli into ion-transport-mediated signaling, which has received considerable attention in diverse fields such as sensors, energy harvesting devices, and desalination membrane. In this work, we present a photosensitive ion channel based on plasmonic gold nanostars (AuNSs) and cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) embedded in layered MXene nanosheets. The MXene/AuNS/CNF (MAC) membrane provides subnanometer-sized ionic pathways for light-sensitive cationic flow. When the MAC nanochannel is exposed to NIR light, a photothermal gradient is formed, which induces directional photothermo-osmotic flow of nanoconfined electrolyte against the thermal gradient and produces a net ionic current. MAC membrane exhibits enhanced photothermal current compared with pristine MXene, whi

SUBMITTER: Yeom J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9870870 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature