dorsal/arxiv
View SchemaSelf-induced spontaneous transport of water molecules through a symmetrical nanochannel by ratchetlike mechanism
| Authors | Rongzheng Wan, Hangjun Lu, Jinyuan Li, Jingdong Bao, Jun Hu, Haiping Fang |
|---|---|
| Categories | |
| ArXiv ID | physics/0607289 |
| URL | https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0607289 |
Abstract
Water molecules, confined in a carbon nanotube, were monitored using molecular dynamics simulation. Spontaneous directional transportation during a long timescale was observed in the symmetrical nanochannel by a ratchet-like mechanism. This ratchet-like system was without any asymmetrical structure or external field, while the asymmetric ratchet-like potential solely resulted from the transported water molecules that formed hydrogen-bonded chains. Remarkably, the resulting net water fluxes reached the level of the biological channel and the average duration for spontaneous directional transportation reached the timescale of many biomolecular functions. This is the first report that heat energy from the surroundings can be used to drive molecules uni-directionally during a long timescale in a nanochannel system. This effect is ascribed to the unique structure of the water molecule.
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"abstract": "Water molecules, confined in a carbon nanotube, were monitored using\nmolecular dynamics simulation. Spontaneous directional transportation during a\nlong timescale was observed in the symmetrical nanochannel by a ratchet-like\nmechanism. This ratchet-like system was without any asymmetrical structure or\nexternal field, while the asymmetric ratchet-like potential solely resulted\nfrom the transported water molecules that formed hydrogen-bonded chains.\nRemarkably, the resulting net water fluxes reached the level of the biological\nchannel and the average duration for spontaneous directional transportation\nreached the timescale of many biomolecular functions. This is the first report\nthat heat energy from the surroundings can be used to drive molecules\nuni-directionally during a long timescale in a nanochannel system. This effect\nis ascribed to the unique structure of the water molecule.",
"arxiv_id": "physics/0607289",
"authors": [
"Rongzheng Wan",
"Hangjun Lu",
"Jinyuan Li",
"Jingdong Bao",
"Jun Hu",
"Haiping Fang"
],
"categories": [
"physics.bio-ph"
],
"title": "Self-induced spontaneous transport of water molecules through a symmetrical nanochannel by ratchetlike mechanism",
"url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0607289"
},
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