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Ultrafast water permeation through nanochannels with a densely fluorous interior surface

Itoh, Yoshimitsu1; Chen, Shuo1; Hirahara, Ryota1; Konda, Takeshi1; Aoki, Tsubasa1; Ueda, Takumi1; Shimada, Ichio1; Cannon, James J.1; Shao, Cheng1; Shiomi, Junichiro1; Tabata, Kazuhito V.1; Noji, Hiroyuki1; Sato, Kohei2; Aida, Takuzo1

Published Aug 30, 2022; Updated Aug 31, 2022 on Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.h18931zq1

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Abstract

Ultrafast water permeation in aquaporins is promoted by their hydrophobic interior surface. Polytetrafluoroethylene has a dense fluorine surface, leading to its strong water repellence. We report a series of fluorous oligoamide nanorings with interior diameters ranging from 0.9 to 1.9 nanometers. These nanorings undergo supramolecular polymerization in phospholipid bilayer membranes to form fluorous nanochannels, the interior walls of which are densely covered with fluorine atoms. The nanochannel with the smallest diameter exhibits a water permeation flux that is two orders of magnitude greater than those of aquaporins and carbon nanotubes. The proposed nanochannel exhibits negligible chloride ion (Cl – ) permeability caused by a powerful electrostatic barrier provided by the electrostatically negative fluorous interior surface. Thus, this nanochannel is expected to show nearly perfect salt reflectance for desalination.