In situ generation of (sub) nanometer pores in MoS2 membranes for ion-selective transport
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Engineering topics
Publications and source records attributed to Hoenig, Eli.
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Rare earth elements (REEs), critical to modern industry, are difficult to separate and purify, given their similar physicochemical properties originating from the lanthanide contraction. Here, we systematically study the transport of lanthanide ions (Ln 3+ ) in artificially confined angstrom-scale two-dimensional channels using MoS 2 -based building blocks in an aqueous environment. The results show that the uptake and permeability of Ln 3+ assume a well-defined volcano shape peaked at Sm 3+ . This transport behavior is rooted from the tradeoff between the barrier for dehydration and the strength of interactions of lanthanide ions in the confinement channels, reminiscent of the Sabatier principle. Molecular dynamics simulations reveal that Sm 3+ , with moderate hydration free energy and intermediate affinity for channel interaction, exhibit the smallest dehydration degree, consequently resulting in the highest permeability. Our work not only highlights the distinct mass transport properties under extreme confinement but also demonstrates the potential of dialing confinement dimension and chemistry for greener REEs separation.
Emulating angstrom-scale dynamics of the highly selective biological ion channels is a challenging task. Recent work on angstrom-scale artificial channels has expanded our understanding of ion transport and uptake mechanisms under confinement. However, the role of chemical environment in such channels is still not well understood. Here, we report the anomalously enhanced transport and uptake of ions under confined MoS2-based channels that are ~five angstroms in size. The ion uptake preference in the MoS2-based channels can be changed by the selection of surface functional groups and ion uptake sequence due to the interplay between kinetic and thermodynamic factors that depend on whether the ions are mixed or not prior to uptake. Our work offers a holistic picture of ion transport in 2D confinement and highlights ion interplay in this regime.
Controlling the ion transport through graphene oxide (GO) membrane is challenging, particularly in the aqueous environment due to its strong swelling tendency. Fine-tuning the interlayer spacing and chemistry is critical to create highly selective membranes. We investigate the effect of single-site divalent cations in tuning GO membrane properties. Competitive ionic permeation test indicates that Cu 2+ cations dominate the transport through the 2D channels of GO membrane over other cations (Mg 2+ /Ca 2+ /Co 2+ ). Without/With the single-site M 2+ modifications, pristine GO, Mg-GO, Ca-GO, and Cu-GO membranes show interlayer spacings of ~13.6, 15.6, 14.5, and 12.3 Å in wet state, respectively. The Cu-GO membrane shows a two-fold decrease of NaCl (1 M) permeation rate comparing to pristine GO, Mg-GO, and Ca-GO membranes. In reverse osmosis tests using 1000 ppm NaCl and Na 2 SO 4 as feeds, Cu-GO membrane shows rejection of ~78% and ~94%, respectively, which are 5%–10% higher than its counterpart membranes.
The structure, chemistry, and charge of interfaces between materials and aqueous fluids play a central role in determining properties and performance of numerous water systems. Sensors, membranes, sorbents, and heterogeneous catalysts almost uniformly rely on specific interactions between their surfaces and components dissolved or suspended in the water-and often the water molecules themselves-to detect and mitigate contaminants. Deleterious processes in these systems such as fouling, scaling (inorganic deposits), and corrosion are also governed by interfacial phenomena. Despite the importance of these interfaces, much remains to be learned about their multiscale interactions. Developing a deeper understanding of the molecular- and mesoscale phenomena at water/solid interfaces will be essential to driving innovation to address grand challenges in supplying sufficient fit-for-purpose water in the future. In this Review, we examine the current state of knowledge surrounding adsorption, reactivity, and transport in several key classes of water/solid interfaces, drawing on a synergistic combination of theory, simulation, and experiments, and finally, provide an outlook for prioritizing strategic research directions.
A review detailing existing electrode materials, cell architectures, and charge transfer mechanisms related to electrochemically driven desalination and selective element extraction in aqueous environments.
Restacked two-dimensional (2D) materials represent a new class of membranes for water-ion separations. Understanding the interplay between the 2D membrane’s structure and the constituent material’s surface chemistry to its ion sieving properties is crucial for further membrane development. In this paper, we reveal, and tune via covalent functionalization, the structure of MoS 2 -based membranes. We find features on both the ~1 nm (interlayer spacing) and ~100 nm (mesoporous voids between layers) length scales that evolve with the hydration level. The functional groups act as permanent molecular spacers, preventing local impermeability caused by irreversible restacking and promoting the uniform rehydration of the membrane. Molecular dynamics simulations show that the choice of functional group tunes the structure of water within the MoS 2 channel and consequently determines the hydrated interlayer spacing. We demonstrate that MoS 2 membranes functionalized with acetic acid have consistently ~92% rejection of Na 2 SO 4 with a flux of ~1.5 lm -2 hr -1 bar -1 .