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  • Review Article
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Artificial channels for confined mass transport at the sub-nanometre scale

Nature Reviews Materials volume 6, pages 294–312 (2021)Cite this article

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Abstract

Mass transport at the sub-nanometre scale, including selective transport of gases, liquids and ions, plays a key role in systems such as catalysis, energy generation and storage, chemical sensing and molecular separation. Highly efficient biological channels in living organisms have inspired the design of artificial channels with similar, or even higher, mass-transport efficiency, which can be used at a much larger scale. In this Review, we highlight synthetic-nanomaterials-enabled channels in the platforms of well-defined nanopores, 1D nanotubes and 2D nanochannels, and discuss their design principles, channel architectures and membrane or device fabrication. We focus on fundamental mechanisms of sub-nanometre confined mass transport and their relationships with the structure–property–performance. We then present the practicalities of these channels and discuss their potential impact on the development of next-generation sustainable technologies for use in applications related to energy, the environment and healthcare.

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Fig. 1: Schematics and selected materials for mass transport through nanopores, 1D nanotubes and 2D nanochannels.
Fig. 2: Techniques for the fabrication of large-area membranes.
Fig. 3: Mass transport controlled by different mechanisms.
Fig. 4: The structures and sieving behaviours of CMS, graphene and MOF.
Fig. 5: Controlling of 2D nanochannel structures.
Fig. 6: Controlling channel structure and transport behaviour by surface, electrical and chemical effects.
Fig. 7: Mass transport controlled by quantum effects.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge support received from National Natural Science Foundation of China (91934303, 22038006, 21921006, 21490585), the Innovative Research Team Program by the Ministry of Education of China (IRT_17R54) and the Top-notch Academic Programs Project of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions (TAPP). J.S. and Y.H. acknowledge the CCF grant (FCC/1/1972-19) to Y.H. from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST).

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  1. Physical Sciences and Engineering Division, Advanced Membranes and Porous Materials Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia

    Jie Shen & Yu Han

  2. State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, China

    Jie Shen, Gongping Liu & Wanqin Jin

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Shen, J., Liu, G., Han, Y. et al. Artificial channels for confined mass transport at the sub-nanometre scale. Nat Rev Mater 6, 294–312 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41578-020-00268-7

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