Researchers from Northwestern University and the University of Chicago have made significant strides in understanding ion transport through artificial membranes. This research could potentially revolutionize water purification and material extraction processes.
Proteins embedded within cell membranes regulate the passage of molecules, allowing essential materials like potassium and sodium to pass through ion channels while preventing chemical concentrations from becoming too high. "Naturally, our team was interested in seeing whether we could build artificial systems that would, in some way or another, mimic those biological properties," said George Schatz, a chemist at Northwestern University.
The research team published their findings in Nature Communications. They discovered that by adding different amounts of lead, cobalt, or barium ions to an artificial membrane, they could control the amount of potassium passing through it. Co-first author Mingzhan Wang noted the significance of their findings: "The most exciting part of our research is that we show how dramatically ion transport in angstrom-scale 2D channels can be changed in the presence of other ions."
Their work was supported by the Advanced Materials for Energy-Water Systems (AMEWS) Center and funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. The study not only advances technology but also contributes to pure science by enhancing understanding of ion behavior.
"By changing the combination of ion species, we were able to switch from a cooperative effect to an inhibitory effect," said co-first author Qinsi Xiong. Future research will explore other materials' effects on controlling element flow beyond potassium.
This innovative approach holds promise for environmentally friendly lithium extraction methods and further applications in nanofluidics systems. As Wang stated, "Certainly, our protocols can be extended to other nanofluidic systems."