title: A structure-permeability relationship of ultrathin nanoporous silicon membrane: a comparison with the nuclear envelope.
abstract: We report on a simple, quantitative relationship between structure and permeability of a novel ultrathin nanoporous membrane based on nanocrystalline silicon. Large permeability of the free-standing nanomembrane to Ru(NH3)63+, O2, or 1,1'-ferrocenedimethanol, which was able to be measured for the first time by employing scanning electrochemical microscopy, is proportional to the density (67 mum-2) and average radius (5.6 nm) of nanopores. As solution electrolyte concentration decreases down to 0.01 M, the nanopores are selectively "closed" against Fe(CN)64- because of electrostatic repulsion against negative charges at the pore wall. Permeability of the silicon nanomembrane was compared to permeability of the nuclear envelope to find that the channel diameter of the nuclear pore complex that perforates the nuclear envelope is much larger than the average diameter of the silicon nanopores and concomitantly a hypothetical diameter of 10 nm.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, USA.
authors.forename: Eunkyoung
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.forename: Christopher C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Striemer
authors.forename: David Z
authors.initials: DZ
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Philippe M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Fauchet
authors.forename: James L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: McGrath
authors.forename: Shigeru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Amemiya
mesh_terms: D005295:Ferrocyanides / Q000737:chemistry; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D020527:Microscopy, Scanning Probe; D008954:Models, Biological; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D009685:Nuclear Envelope / Q000737:chemistry*; D022022:Nuclear Pore / Q000737:chemistry; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010316:Particle Size; D010539:Permeability; D016062:Porosity; D017975:Ruthenium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D012825:Silicon / Q000737:chemistry*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D005295:Ferrocyanides; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D017975:Ruthenium Compounds; C031584:hexammineruthenium; C031835:potassium ferrocyanide; D012825:Silicon