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Ion selectivity of graphene nanopores

Author

Listed:
  • Ryan C. Rollings

    (Harvard University)

  • Aaron T. Kuan

    (School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University)

  • Jene A. Golovchenko

    (Harvard University
    School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University)

Abstract

As population growth continues to outpace development of water infrastructure in many countries, desalination (the removal of salts from seawater) at high energy efficiency will likely become a vital source of fresh water. Due to its atomic thinness combined with its mechanical strength, porous graphene may be particularly well-suited for electrodialysis desalination, in which ions are removed under an electric field via ion-selective pores. Here, we show that single graphene nanopores preferentially permit the passage of K+ cations over Cl− anions with selectivity ratios of over 100 and conduct monovalent cations up to 5 times more rapidly than divalent cations. Surprisingly, the observed K+/Cl− selectivity persists in pores even as large as about 20 nm in diameter, suggesting that high throughput, highly selective graphene electrodialysis membranes can be fabricated without the need for subnanometer control over pore size.

Suggested Citation

  • Ryan C. Rollings & Aaron T. Kuan & Jene A. Golovchenko, 2016. "Ion selectivity of graphene nanopores," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-7, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms11408
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11408
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    Cited by:

    1. Weiwen Xin & Jingru Fu & Yongchao Qian & Lin Fu & Xiang-Yu Kong & Teng Ben & Lei Jiang & Liping Wen, 2022. "Biomimetic KcsA channels with ultra-selective K+ transport for monovalent ion sieving," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, December.
    2. Shihao Su & Yifan Zhang & Shengyuan Peng & Linxin Guo & Yong Liu & Engang Fu & Huijun Yao & Jinlong Du & Guanghua Du & Jianming Xue, 2022. "Multifunctional graphene heterogeneous nanochannel with voltage-tunable ion selectivity," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    3. Rezakazemi, Mashallah & Arabi Shamsabadi, Ahmad & Lin, Haiqing & Luis, Patricia & Ramakrishna, Seeram & Aminabhavi, Tejraj M., 2021. "Sustainable MXenes-based membranes for highly energy-efficient separations," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    4. Eli Hoenig & Yu Han & Kangli Xu & Jingyi Li & Mingzhan Wang & Chong Liu, 2024. "In situ generation of (sub) nanometer pores in MoS2 membranes for ion-selective transport," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    5. Mai, Van-Phung & Yang, Ruey-Jen, 2020. "Boosting power generation from salinity gradient on high-density nanoporous membrane using thermal effect," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 274(C).
    6. Xingya Li & Gengping Jiang & Meipeng Jian & Chen Zhao & Jue Hou & Aaron W. Thornton & Xinyi Zhang & Jefferson Zhe Liu & Benny D. Freeman & Huanting Wang & Lei Jiang & Huacheng Zhang, 2023. "Construction of angstrom-scale ion channels with versatile pore configurations and sizes by metal-organic frameworks," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    7. Chao Li & Yi Zhai & Heming Jiang & Siqi Li & Pengxiang Liu & Longcheng Gao & Lei Jiang, 2024. "Bioinspired light-driven chloride pump with helical porphyrin channels," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, December.
    8. Jiao, Yanmei & Yang, Chun & Zhang, Wenyao & Wang, Qiuwang & Zhao, Cunlu, 2024. "A review on direct osmotic power generation: Mechanism and membranes," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    9. Di Wei & Feiyao Yang & Zhuoheng Jiang & Zhonglin Wang, 2022. "Flexible iontronics based on 2D nanofluidic material," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, December.

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