Enhanced osmotic transport in individual double-walled carbon nanotube

The transport of fluid and ions across nanotubes or nanochannels has attracted great attention due to the ultrahigh energy power density and slip length, with applications in water purification, desalination, energy conversion and even ion-based neuromorphic computing. Investigation on individual nanotube or nanochannel is essential in revealing the fundamental mechanism as well as demonstrating the property unambiguously. Surprisingly, while carbon nanotube is the pioneering and one of the most attractive systems for nanofluidics, study on its response and performance under osmotic forcing is lacking. Here, we measure the osmotic energy conversion for individual double-walled carbon nanotube with an inner radius of 2.3nm. By fabricating a nanofluidic device using photolithography, we find a giant power density (up to 22.5kW/m(2)) for the transport of KCl, NaCl, and LiCl solutions across the tube. Further experiments show that such an extraordinary performance originates from the ultrahigh slip lengths (up to a few micrometers). Our results suggest that carbon nanotube is a good candidate for not only ultrafast transport, but also osmotic power harvesting under salinity gradients.

Automated summary

Investigation on the response and performance of individual carbon nanotubes under osmotic forcing is lacking. In this study, we measure the osmotic energy conversion for individual double-walled carbon nanotubes and find a giant power density and slip length. Our results suggest that carbon nanotubes are a good candidate for ultrafast transport and osmotic power harvesting under salinity gradients.