Diffusion anomaly in nanopores as a rich field for theorists and a challenge for experimentalists

Abstract

Diffusion in nanoporous materials directly affects matter upgrading by separation and catalytic conversion and in principle ultra-fast diffusion can enhance productivity and reduce costs. Yuan et al. 1 reported the occurrence of ultra-fast diffusion in one-dimensional channels of a zeolite based on molecular simulations and uptake rate measurements. A careful re-analysis of the uptake data shows that experimental validation of ultra-fast diffusion by uptake rate measurements is yet to be confirmed. This implies that the potential enhancements in productivity and cost reduction cannot be demonstrated.

Topics & Concepts