Biological membranes provide a fascinating example of a separation system that is multifunctional, tunable, precise, and efficient. Biomimetic membranes, which mimic the architecture of cellular membranes, have the potential to deliver significant improvements in specificity and permeability. Here, a fully synthetic biomimetic membrane is reported that incorporates ultra-efficient 1.5 nm diameter carbon nanotube porin (CNTPs) channels in a block-copolymer matrix. It is demonstrated that CNTPs maintain high proton and water permeability in these membranes. CNTPs can also mimic the behavior of biological gap junctions by forming bridges between vesicular compartments that allow transport of small molecules.
MembranesEnergy-efficient molecular separations are fundamental to a number of modern industrial, environmental, and biomedical processes including large-scale water treatment, water desalination, kidney dialysis, sterile filtration, and manufacturing of pharmaceuticals. [1] Although synthetic polymeric membranes have come to dominate this application landscape, ever increasing demands continue to fuel the search for energyefficient membranes that can provide both high selectivity and high permeability in the critical ca. 1 nm pore size.