Electric fields can control the transport of water in carbon nanotubes

Ritos, K., Borg, M. K., Mottram, N. J. and Reese, J. M. (2016) Electric fields can control the transport of water in carbon nanotubes. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, 374(2060), 20150025. (doi: 10.1098/rsta.2015.0025) (PMID:26712640) (PMCID:PMC4696074)

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Abstract

The properties of water confined inside nanotubes are of considerable scientific and technological interest. We use molecular dynamics to investigate the structure and average orientation of water flowing within a carbon nanotube. We find that water exhibits biaxial paranematic liquid crystal ordering both within the nanotube and close to its ends. This preferred molecular ordering is enhanced when an axial electric field is applied, affecting the water flow rate through the nanotube. A spatially patterned electric field can minimize nanotube entrance effects and significantly increase the flow rate.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:This research is funded by the UK’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) under grant nos. EP/I011927/1 and EP/K038621/1. Results were obtained using the EPSRC funded ARCHIE-WeSt High Performance Computer (www.archie-west.ac.uk) under EPSRC grant no. EP/K000586/1.
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Mottram, Professor Nigel
Authors: Ritos, K., Borg, M. K., Mottram, N. J., and Reese, J. M.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Mathematics and Statistics > Mathematics
Journal Name:Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences
Publisher:Royal Society
ISSN:1364-503X
ISSN (Online):1471-2962
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2015 The Authors
First Published:First published in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences 374(2060): 20150025
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License
Data DOI:10.15129/66f4b873-30e5-49ce-a432- dbda6a8c62cc

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