#이온채널

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UNIST and Korea University Research Teams Discover Photosensitive Ion Channels in Layered MXene Membranes

UNIST and Korean University Research Teams, led by Prof. Sang Kyu Kwak and Hyunhyub Ko discover "Photosensitive Ion Channels in Layered MXene Membranes Modified with Plasmonic Gold Nanostars and Cellulose Nanofibers". The study published by Nature Communications on 23 January 2023, and the abstract of study is: Ion channels transduce external stimuli into ion-transport-mediated signaling, which has received considerable attention in diverse fields such as sensors, energy harvesting devices, and desalination membrane. In this work, we present a photosensitive ion channel based on plasmonic gold nanostars AuNSs and CNFs embedded in layered MXene nanosheets. The MAC membrane provides subnanometer-sized ionic pathways for light-sensitive cationic flow. When the MAC nanochannel is exposed to NIR light, a photothermal gradient is formed, which induces directional photothermo-osmotic flow of nanoconfined electrolyte against the thermal gradient and produces a net ionic current. MAC membrane exhibits enhanced photothermal current compared with pristine MXene, which is attributed to the combined photothermal effects of plasmonic AuNSs and MXene and the widened interspacing of the MAC composite via the hydrophilic nanofibrils. The MAC composite membranes are envisioned to be applied in flexible ionic channels with ionogels and light-controlled ionic circuits.