EAGER-Coupled Mechanics of Nanoporous Membrane with Functionalized Surfaces

这个EAGER奖将调查耦合过程中的活性纳米多孔膜造成的循环机械变形。 将研究双曲面纳米孔中的静电和流体动力学相互作用，由于在流体动力学压力梯度的存在下可变的孔几何形状，以探索由于机械振荡而导致的离子排斥和通过膜的水通量增加。 要解决的具体问题包括：（i）限制离子排斥和水通量的几何、静电和流体动力学条件是什么;（ii）制造双曲面纳米孔的制造约束和（iii）水通量、离子排斥、振幅和所施加信号的占空比之间的关系。这项研究将首次研究纳米孔弹性变形对工程功能的适用性，并模拟细胞膜蛋白的功能。这一概念的提出如果成功，将导致一类新的膜，可以通过控制操作来分离各种离子和物种。如果成功，这项研究工作将对活性材料，膜力学领域做出重大贡献，并提供对纳米孔中活性过程的基本理解。通过活性纳米孔的离子传输过程的基本理解将导致在化学分离和生物医学应用中的创新应用。从这项工作中获得的科学知识将通过材料研究学会会议上的演讲传播，科学数据将通过PI的实验室网页向公众提供。该奖项的研究工作将进一步加强从事本科生在机械和航空航天工程系在俄亥俄州州立大学开发设计规则的脱盐系统。此外，这项研究计划的海水淡化，对环境可持续发展的持续社会趋势的相关性将激励本科生采取先进的工程课程，当然吸引他们追求工程研究生课程。

This EAGER award will investigate coupled processes in an active nanoporous membrane resulting from cyclic mechanical deformation. Electrostatic and hydrodynamic interactions in the hyperboloidal nanopore due to variable pore geometry in the presence of ahydrodynamic pressure gradient will be studied to explore ion rejection and increased water flux through the membrane due to mechanical oscillations. Specific quesitons to be addressed include: What is/are the (i) limiting geometrical, electrostatic and hydrodynamic conditions for ion rejection and water flux; (ii) fabrication constraints in manufacturing a hyperboloidal nanopore and (iii) relationship between water flux, ion rejection, amplitude and the duty cycle of the applied signal. The proposed research will for the first time investigate the applicability of elastic deformation of nanopores for an engineering function and mimic the functionality of cell membrane proteins. The proposed concept, if successful, will lead to a new class of membranes that can be programmed to separate various ions and species through controlled operation.If successful this research work will make significant contributions to the fields of active materials, membrane mechanics and provide fundamental understanding of active processes in nanopores. The fundamental understanding of ion transport processes through an active nanopore will lead to innovative applications in chemical separations and biomedical applications. The scientific knowledge gained from this work will be disseminated through presentations in Materials Research Society meetings and the scientific data will be made available to the general public through the PI's lab webpage. The research effort of this award will be further enhanced by engaging undergraduate students in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering department at The Ohio State University on developing design rules for a desalination system. Further, relevancy of this research program to desalination, the ongoing social trend towards environmental sustainability will motivate undergraduate students to take up advanced engineering courses and certainly attract them to pursue graduate program in engineering.