Bio-inspired smart single asymmetric hourglass nanochannels for continuous shape and ion transport control

Abstract

Inspired by biological asymmetric ion channels, new shape-tunable and pH-responsive asymmetric hourglass single nanochannel systems demonstrate unique ion-transport properties. It is found that the change in shape and pH cooperatively control the ion transport within the nanochannel ranging from asymmetric shape with asymmetric ion transport, to asymmetric shape with symmetric ion transport and symmetric shape with symmetric ion transport.

Keywords: asymmetric hourglass shape; bio-inspired materials; chemical etching; nanochannels; nanomaterials; smart materials; structure-property relationships.