NIRT: Gated Transport through Carbon Nanotube Membranes

我们的跨学科研究团队将结合实验和模拟工具进行一项研究，该研究将极大地提高我们对碳纳米管分子运输的性质和控制的理解。我们的项目将探讨以下两大主题：。分子与碳纳米管相互作用的基本原理和空间限制对分子结构、动力学和运输的影响。利用高度特异性的基于dna的分子门控，主动调节和控制分子的选择性和通过碳纳米管的运输。这项研究将扩大和加强纳米流体学的基础科学。我们不仅将研究约束的影响，这对理解活细胞中的离子和水运输具有重要意义，而且还将为基于膜的转化技术的发展奠定基础。新发现的碳纳米管快速传输现象将被用于改善海水淡化、气体分离以及其他应用（如防护装备和药物输送）的膜的性能。除了对研究生和本科生进行纳米生物流体学方面的培训，并加强合作院校的课程设置外，我们还将设计和实施合作教授的研究生水平课程。我们也会特别重视招收少数族裔和代表性不足的学生。这项工作的主要研究和教育主题是：活性纳米结构。

Nanoscale Interdisciplinary Research Teams (NIRT)GATED TRANSPORT THROUGH CARBON NANOTUBE MEMBRANES Our interdisciplinary team will use a combination of experimental and simulation tools to conduct a study that would greatly improve our understanding of the nature and control of molecular transport through carbon nanotubes. Our project will explore the following two broad topics:. Fundamentals of molecular interactions with CNTs and the effects of spatial confinement on the molecular structure, dynamics and transport.. Active regulation and control of molecular selectivity and transport through carbon nanotubes using highly specific DNA-based molecular gating.Intellectual MeritThe proposed research will broaden and enhance the fundamental science of nanofluidics. We will not only investigate the effect of confinement that has implications for understanding ionic and water transport in living cells, but also lay the foundation for the development of membrane-based transformational technologies. The newly discovered phenomenon of fast transport through carbon nanotubes will be exploited to enable improvements in the performance of membranes for desalination, gas separation as well as other applications such as protective gear and drug delivery.Broader Impacts Beyond the training of graduate and undergraduate students on nano-bio-fluidics and the strengthening the course curricula at the partner institutions, we will design and implement co-taught graduate level courses. We will also place special emphasis on the recruitment of minority and underrepresented students.The main research and educational theme of this work is: Active Nanostructures.