Electrokinetic flow through charged, soft porous media

该研究计划将研究基于水和离子在纳米级孔隙中运动的自然材料的结构和功能之间的关系。表面充电和其他静电现象是这些受限区域中带电流体流动的主要驱动因素，从而产生了可在一系列纳米流体材料和设备中利用的不寻常的传输特征。例如纳米流体二极管，其工作原理与固体半导体二极管相似，但明显的区别是前者仅使用电解质工作。此外，就形状和功能而言，带电纳米通道让人想起生物离子通道，只不过后者是软的，因此是可变形的。正是充电现象和形状变形之间的相互作用产生了此类生物组件的独特特征。因此，一个令人兴奋的前进方向是开发形状随操作条件动态变化的软纳米流体装置。除了控制电解质运动之外，这还可能有助于精确处理浸入电解质中的大分子，这是芯片实验室技术的一个非常理想的目标。虽然潜在的应用才刚刚开始出现，但理论模型可以指导实验并预测尚未取得很大进展的领域的新物理现象。主要目标是开发一致的连续体模型来分析电解质的流体运动与柔软的带电孔壁的动态形态之间的相互作用。还将研究这些孔隙之间的耦合，以预测新型离子传导膜和复合电极等宏观多孔材料的性能。这项研究将开辟一个新的研究领域，分析方法和计算的结合有望为小尺度流体流动的基本过程提供新的见解。总体愿景是建立有助于设计新型功能材料的理论工具，并在电化学、生物系统和纳米流体装置中找到应用。加拿大在电化学和生物物理学领域的前沿研究方面享有盛誉，这项研究将有助于扩大该国在这些领域的能力和专业知识。预计这项工作将产生新的想法，从而可能带来创新的设备技术。

This research program will investigate the relation between structure and function of nature-inspired materials that are based on the motion of water and ions in nanoscale pores. Surface charging and other electrostatic phenomena are dominant drivers of charged fluid flow in these confined domains, giving rise to unusual transport features that can be exploited in a range of nanofluidic materials and devices.Examples are nanofluidic diodes whose operating principle is similar to that of solid semiconductor diodes, with the distinct difference that the former solely operate with electrolytes. Moreover, in terms of shape and functionality, charged nanochannels are reminiscent of biological ion channels, except the latter are soft and, hence, deformable. It is exactly this interplay between the charging phenomena and shape deformation that generates the unique features of such biological components.Therefore, an exciting way forward is the development of soft nanofluidic devices whose shape changes dynamically with operating conditions. In addition to the control of electrolyte motion, this may also facilitate precise handling of macromolecules immersed in the electrolyte, a much desired goal of lab-on-chip technologies.While potential applications only begin to emerge, theoretical models can guide experiments and predict new physical phenomena in an area where much progress is yet to be made. The main goal is the development of consistent continuum models to analyse the interaction between the fluid motion of electrolytes and the dynamic morphology of the soft, charged pore walls. The coupling among these pores will also be studied so as to predict properties of macroscopic porous materials such as new ion-conducting membranes and composite electrodes. This research will open up a new area of study where a combination of analytical methods and computations promises new insights into fundamental processes of fluid flow at small scales.The over-arching vision is to establish theoretical tools that aid in the design of novel, functional materials, finding application in electrochemistry, biological systems and nanofluidic devices. Canada has developed a strong reputation for leading-edge research in electrochemistry and biophysics, and this research will help expand the country's capacity and expertise in these areas. It is anticipated that new ideas will spin off from this work that may result in innovative device technology.