Nanofluidic Osmotic Diodes: Theory and Molecular Dynamics Simulations
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Picallo-2013-Nanofluidic osmotic diodes.pdf
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Author(s)
Picallo, Clara
Gravelle, Simon
Joly, Laurent
Charlaix, Elisabeth
Bocquet, Lyderic
Date Issued
December 2013
Journal
Physical Review Letters
Publisher
American Physical Society
Citation
Picallo, Clara, Simon Gravelle, Laurent Joly, Elisabeth Charlaix, and Lyderic Bocquet. “Nanofluidic Osmotic Diodes: Theory and Molecular Dynamics Simulations.” Physical Review Letters 111, no. 24 (December 2013). © 2013 American Physical Society
Version
Final published version
Abstract
Osmosis describes the flow of water across semipermeable membranes powered by the chemical free energy extracted from salinity gradients. While osmosis can be expressed in simple terms via the van ’t Hoff ideal gas formula for the osmotic pressure, it is a complex phenomenon taking its roots in the subtle interactions occurring at the scale of the membrane nanopores. Here we use new opportunities offered by nanofluidic systems to create an osmotic diode exhibiting asymmetric water flow under reversal of osmotic driving. We show that a surface charge asymmetry built on a nanochannel surface leads to nonlinear couplings between water flow and the ion dynamics, which are capable of water flow rectification. This phenomenon opens new opportunities for water purification and complex flow control in nanochannels.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
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Article is made available in accordance with the publisher's policy and may be subject to US copyright law. Please refer to the publisher's site for terms of use.
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DOI of Published Version
https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.111.244501
