Carbon Nanotubes as Nano-Pumps: A Molecular Dynamics Investigation

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soumik Banerjee ◽  
Sohail Murad ◽  
Ishwar K. Puri
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Nanotubes ◽  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Material Processing ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Metal Ion ◽  
Surface Charge Density ◽  
Water Molecules ◽  
Ion Separation ◽  
Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Charged Ions

This paper focuses on the use of carbon nanotubes (CNT) for ion separation and encapsulation from a solution containing both positive and negatively charged ions. Metal ion separation from drinking water or during material processing applications can be an important issue. We use molecular dynamics simulations to demonstrate that a pair of carbon nanotubes with patterned positive and negative charges can form the basis of an effective device for the separation or encapsulation of ions. We consider three different charge patterns: i) Electrodes, where all the atoms of a CNT are charged with a finite surface charge density; ii) Alternate axial bands of positive and negative charges on each electrode; and iii) Alternate circumferential rings of positive and negative charges on the electrodes. The charge pattern determines the preferential intake of water and/or ions by a nanotube. As conventional electrodes they adsorb ions, but with an alternate band or ring charge pattern they adsorb the water molecules. Our simulations show that a charged CNT can be used as a nano-pump that provides purified water or ions from an impure solution.

Structures of Water Molecules in Carbon Nanotubes Induced with Electric Fields and its Application for Water-Methanol Separation

2016 ◽  
Vol 842 ◽  
pp. 453-456 ◽  
Author(s):  
Winarto ◽  
Daisuke Takaiwa ◽  
Eiji Yamamoto ◽  
Kenji Yasuoka
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Nanotubes ◽  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Electric Field ◽  
Electric Fields ◽  
Electrostatic Interaction ◽  
Water Molecules ◽  
Ordered Structures ◽  
Separation Effect ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Dynamics Simulations

Water confined in carbon nanotubes (CNTs) under the influence of an electric field has interesting properties that are potential for nanofluidic-based applications. With molecular dynamics simulations, this work shows that the electric field induces formation of ordered structures of water molecules in the CNTs. Formation of the ordered structures strengthens the electrostatic interaction between the water molecules. As a result, water strongly prefers to fill CNTs over methanol and it produces a separation effect. Interestingly, the separation effect with the electric field does not decrease for a wide range of CNT diameter.

Simulations of Pressurized Water Flow through Carbon Nanotubes

2010 ◽  
Vol 1258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samantha Shaw ◽  
David Faux
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Nanotubes ◽  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Molecular Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Water Molecules ◽  
Water Density ◽  
Pressurized Water ◽  
Molecular Arrangement ◽  
Flow Through ◽  
Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Maximum Occupancy

AbstractMolecular dynamics simulations of the flow of pressurised water through carbon nanotubes of chirality (9,0), (12,0), (15,0) and (18,0) have been undertaken at 298K with a water density of approximately 1240kg/m3. Results show that the rate of filling is least in the smallest diameter nanotube, but that there is less variation in the time taken to reach maximum occupancy. The water molecules are found to undergo restructuring due to their confinement, with detailed molecular arrangement dependent on CNT diameter. Enhanced rates of flow are shown for the (15,0) nanotube, highlighting the effect of nanotube diameter on confinement and thus on flow.

scholarly journals Electrical Breakdown Mechanism of Transformer Oil with Water Impurity: Molecular Dynamics Simulations and First-Principles Calculations

Crystals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 123
Author(s):  
Bin Cao ◽  
Ji-Wei Dong ◽  
Ming-He Chi
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Thermal Diffusion ◽  
First Principles ◽  
Electrical Breakdown ◽  
Transformer Oil ◽  
Water Molecules ◽  
Conducting Channel ◽  
Breakdown Mechanism ◽  
Water Impurity ◽  
Dynamics Simulations

Water impurity is the essential factor of reducing the insulation performance of transformer oil, which directly determines the operating safety and life of a transformer. Molecular dynamics simulations and first-principles electronic-structure calculations are employed to study the diffusion behavior of water molecules and the electrical breakdown mechanism of transformer oil containing water impurities. The molecular dynamics of an oil-water micro-system model demonstrates that the increase of aging acid concentration will exponentially expedite thermal diffusion of water molecules. Density of states (DOS) for a local region model of transformer oil containing water molecules indicates that water molecules can introduce unoccupied localized electron-states with energy levels close to the conduction band minimum of transformer oil, which makes water molecules capable of capturing electrons and transforming them into water ions during thermal diffusion. Subsequently, under a high electric field, water ions collide and impact on oil molecules to break the molecular chain of transformer oil, engendering carbonized components that introduce a conduction electronic-band in the band-gap of oil molecules as a manifestation of forming a conductive region in transformer oil. The conduction channel composed of carbonized components will be eventually formed, connecting two electrodes, with the carbonized components developing rapidly under the impact of water ions, based on which a large number of electron carriers will be produced similar to “avalanche” discharge, leading to an electrical breakdown of transformer oil insulation. The water impurity in oil, as the key factor for forming the carbonized conducting channel, initiates the electric breakdown process of transformer oil, which is dominated by thermal diffusion of water molecules. The increase of aging acid concentration will significantly promote the thermal diffusion of water impurities and the formation of an initial conducting channel, accounting for the degradation in dielectric strength of insulating oil containing water impurities after long-term operation of the transformer.

scholarly journals Origin and control of ionic hydration patterns in nanopores

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Miraslau L. Barabash ◽  
William A. T. Gibby ◽  
Carlo Guardiani ◽  
Alex Smolyanitsky ◽  
Dmitry G. Luchinsky ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Molecular Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Distribution Functions ◽  
Water Molecules ◽  
Surrounding Water ◽  
Ionic Hydration ◽  
Hydration Shells ◽  
Water Layers ◽  
Dynamics Simulations ◽  
And Control

AbstractIn order to permeate a nanopore, an ion must overcome a dehydration energy barrier caused by the redistribution of surrounding water molecules. The redistribution is inhomogeneous, anisotropic and strongly position-dependent, resulting in complex patterns that are routinely observed in molecular dynamics simulations. Here, we study the physical origin of these patterns and of how they can be predicted and controlled. We introduce an analytic model able to predict the patterns in a graphene nanopore in terms of experimentally accessible radial distribution functions, giving results that agree well with molecular dynamics simulations. The patterns are attributable to a complex interplay of ionic hydration shells with water layers adjacent to the graphene membrane and with the hydration cloud of the nanopore rim atoms, and we discuss ways of controlling them. Our findings pave the way to designing required transport properties into nanoionic devices by optimising the structure of the hydration patterns.

Hormones Nanofiltration in Carbon Nanotubes and Boron Nitride Nanotubes Using Uniform External Electric Field Through Molecular Dynamics

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (11) ◽  
pp. 5499-5509
Author(s):  
Rosely Maria dos Santos Cavaleiro ◽  
Tiago da Silva Arouche ◽  
Phelipe Seiichi Martins Tanoue ◽  
Tais Souza Sá Pereira ◽  
Raul Nunes de Carvalho Junior ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Nanotubes ◽  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Boron Nitride ◽  
Electric Field ◽  
Field Potential ◽  
Boron Nitride Nanotubes ◽  
Attractive Potential ◽  
Water Molecules ◽  
Computer Simulation Study ◽  
Simulation Time

Hormones are a dangerous group of molecules that can cause harm to humans. This study based on classical molecular dynamics proposes the nanofiltration of wastewater contaminated by hormones from a computer simulation study, in which the water and the hormone were filtered in two single-walled nanotube compositions. The calculations were carried out by changing the intensities of the electric field that acted as a force exerting pressure on the filtration along the nanotube, in the simulation time of 100 ps. The hormones studied were estrone, estradiol, estriol, progesterone, ethinylestradiol, diethylbestrol, and levonorgestrel in carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and boron nitride (BNNTs). The most efficient nanofiltrations were for fields with low intensities in the order of 10-8 au and 10-7 au. The studied nanotubes can be used in membranes for nanofiltration in water treatment plants due to the evanescent field potential caused by the action of the electric field inside. Our data showed that the action of EF in conjunction with the van der Walls forces of the nanotubes is sufficient to generate the attractive potential. Evaluating the transport of water molecules in CNTs and BNNTs, under the influence of the electric field, a sequence of simulations with the same boundary conditions was carried out, seeking to know the percentage of water molecules filtered in the nanotubes.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document