Effect of Pressure on Ion Selectivity in Biomimetic Nanopores with pH-Tunable Polyelectrolyte Brushes

Authors

Hui-xia SHAN, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Yancheng Institute of Technology, Yancheng 224051, Jiangsu, China;School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China;
Zhen-ping ZENG, School of Electronic and Optical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, P. R. China;Follow
Li-xian YE, Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, Yunlin 64002, Taiwan;
Feng SHU, School of Electronic and Optical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, P. R. China;China Research Institute of Radiowave Propagation，Qingdao 266107，P. R. China;

Corresponding Author

Zhen-ping ZENG(zengzhenping@njust.edu.cn)

Abstract

Biomimetic ionic channels of synthetic nanopores functionalized with pH-tunable polyelectrolyte (PE) brushes have significant application potentials for active transport control of ions, fluids, and bioparticles on the nanoscale. Ion selectivity is an important phenomenon of ion transport in nanofluidic devices, which has great theoretical significance and practical values. We propose a pressure control scheme to control the ion selectivity in biomimetic nano-systems with pH-tunable PE brushes. Effects of the solution properties (i.e., pH and background salt concentration), the applied voltage and pressure on ion selectivity are comprehensively investigated. The results show that ion selectivity is sensitive to pressure. Unlike the influence of voltage on ion selectivity which is subject to pH and background salt concentration with uncertain directions and uncontrollable speeds, the influence of pressure on ion selectivity is not restricted by the properties of the solution, and has fixed directions and flexible and controllable speeds. The obtained result is a good inspiration for the design of synthetic nanopores functionalized with pH-tunable PE brushes.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords

pH-tunable polyelectrolyte layer, synthetic nanopore, ion transport, ion selectivity

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.13208/j.electrochem.160104

Publication Date

2017-02-28

Online Available Date

2016-03-07

Revised Date

2016-02-22

Received Date

2016-01-04

Recommended Citation

Hui-xia SHAN, Zhen-ping ZENG, Li-xian YE, Feng SHU. Effect of Pressure on Ion Selectivity in Biomimetic Nanopores with pH-Tunable Polyelectrolyte Brushes[J]. Journal of Electrochemistry, 2017 , 23(1): 64-71.
DOI: 10.13208/j.electrochem.160104
Available at: https://jelectrochem.xmu.edu.cn/journal/vol23/iss1/9