Confined Assembly of Superwettable Nanomaterials for Bioinspired Nanofluidic Membranes/Applications
Jian Zhang, Naijia Zhao, Xinyan Jiang, Zhe Li, Kai Chen, X. L. Wang, Tianyun Jing, Yifan Guo, Liwen Xie, Z. Wu, Zhen Zhang
Abstract
Inspired by biological ion channels, nanofluidic membranes have attracted increasing attention for their capacity to achieve efficient ion transport that can mimic the precise transport functions of living organisms. Through the confined assembly of superwettable nanomaterials with tunable physicochemical properties, these bioinspired nanofluidic systems exhibit superior ion transport performance and structural stability, making them promising candidates for a broad spectrum of applications. In this review, we present an overview of the state-of-the-art developments in bioinspired nanofluidic membrane systems. The discussion is structured around the dimensional characteristics of the constituent components including molecules, 0D, 1D, and 2D nanomaterials. A general design framework for the rational construction of nanofluidic membranes is proposed, focusing on the integration of material selection, assembly processes, and functionality tuning to optimize ion transport properties. Then, key applications are introduced, with particular emphasis on osmotic energy conversion, photoelectric conversion, and artificial synapse. Finally, the challenges and prospects for advancing bioinspired nanofluidic membranes are envisioned. This review aims to provide a broad knowledge base for constructing high-performance bioinspired nanofluidic membranes through the confined assembly of superwettable nanomaterials.