title: Designing the topology of ion nano-channels in the mesophases of amphiphilic wedge-shaped molecules.
abstract: The wedge-shaped amphiphiles bearing sulfonate groups at the tip of the wedge are prone to form ion nano-channels upon exposure to a humid atmosphere. During swelling, water molecules preferentially accumulate in polar regions of the system resulting in the formation of a lyotropic phase. In this work, the details of the structure formation processes occurring upon swelling in water vapour, including determination of the size and topology of the ion nano-channels, are explored. The electron density profiles across the channel are obtained from the fits of the X-ray scattering data with two- and three-phase structural models the applicability of which is critically analysed. The results show that the ion channel size correlates not only with water uptake but also with the molecular architecture such as the structure of the rigid molecular fragment bearing a polar group. These findings can help optimising the ion transport for development of ion-selective membranes.
authors.affiliation: Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (State University), Institutskiy per. 9, Dolgoprudny, 141700, Russia and IPCP RAS, Semenov Prospect 1, Chernogolovka, 141432, Russia.
authors.forename: K N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Grafskaia
authors.affiliation: Institut de Sciences des Matériaux de Mulhouse, CNRS UMR 7361, 15 Jean Starcky, F-68057 Mulhouse, France. dimitri.ivanov@uha.fr.
authors.forename: J J Hernandz
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Rueda
authors.affiliation: DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials-Institute for Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry of RWTH Aachen University, Forkenbeckstr. 50, D-52056 Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (State University), Institutskiy per. 9, Dolgoprudny, 141700, Russia.
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Nekipelov
authors.affiliation: IPCP RAS, Semenov Prospect 1, Chernogolovka, 141432, Russia and Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Fundamental Physical and Chemical Engineering, GSP-1, 1-51 Leninskie Gory, Moscow, 119991, Russia. deniano@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: D V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Anokhin
authors.affiliation: DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials-Institute for Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry of RWTH Aachen University, Forkenbeckstr. 50, D-52056 Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moeller
authors.affiliation: Institut de Sciences des Matériaux de Mulhouse, CNRS UMR 7361, 15 Jean Starcky, F-68057 Mulhouse, France. dimitri.ivanov@uha.fr and Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Fundamental Physical and Chemical Engineering, GSP-1, 1-51 Leninskie Gory, Moscow, 119991, Russia. deniano@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Ivanov