Selective Transport of Alkali Metal Ions Across Black Lipid Membranes (BLM) Composed of Ionophilic Amphiphiles

Abstract

Transport of alkali-ions across black lipid membranes (BLM) formed from cationic and anionic, double-chain amphiphiles was characterized by the charge pulse relaxation technique. Amphiphiles containing an ether linkage in the alkyl tail portion displayed enhanced transport rates for sodium and potassium ions, while such selectivity is not observed for the related amphiphile without the ether linkage.