Nanoscale hydrodynamics: enhanced flow in carbon nanotubes.
Nanoscale structures that could mimic the selective transport and extraordinarily fast flow possible in biological cellular channels would have a wide range of potential applications. Here we show that liquid flow through a membrane composed of an array of aligned carbon nanotubes is four to five orders of magnitude faster than would be predicted from conventional fluid-flow theory. This high fluid velocity results from an almost frictionless interface at the carbon-nanotube wall.
Majumder
Mainak
M
Chemical and Materials Engineering Department, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, USA.
Chopra
Nitin
N
Andrews
Rodney
R
Hinds
Bruce J
BJ
D020346:Aquaporins / Q000378:metabolism; D040761:Biomimetic Materials / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D032701:Biomimetics; D017276:Friction; D006860:Hydrogen Bonding; D007700:Kinetics; D044085:Microfluidics / Q000379:methods*; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D014783:Viscosity
D020346:Aquaporins; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon