Bio-inspired nanochannel membranes for smart mass transport and conversion

Artificial nanochannel membranes (ANMs) are a promising platform for mimicking smart mass transport and conversion in biological cell membranes. The thesis focuses on developing ANMs to address the limitation of mass transport and conversion in three areas. First, self-gating ANMs rendering continuous and periodic ion current oscillation are developed, showing great promise for controlled release. Then, ion current rectification inversion phenomenon is discovered in positively charged ANMs, revealing a potential impact of ferricyanides on biosensing. Last, catalytic ANMs with novel configuration and interfacial catalysis are fabricated by in situ coordination reaction between cerium ion and trimesic acid.