Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 17, 2026

Hydrophobic Salt-modified Nafion for Enzyme Immobilization and Stabilization
Published on: July 11, 2012
Dynamics of H2O and Na+ in nafion membranes
Nick P Blake1, Greg Mills, Horia Metiu
1Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry University of California, Santa Barbara California 93106-9510, USA.
Abstract:
We investigate the transport properties of a model of a hydrated Na-Nafion membrane using molecular dynamics simulations. The system consists of several Nafion chains forming a pore with the water and ions inside. At low water content, the hydrophilic domain is not continuous and diffusion is very slow. The diffusion coefficient of both water and Na+ increases with increasing hydration (more strongly so for Na+). The simulations are in qualitative agreement with experimental results for similar systems. The diffusion coefficient is an average over the motion of ions or water molecules located in different environments. To better understand the role of the environment, we calculate the distribution of the residence times of the ion (or water) at different locations in the system. We discuss the transport mechanism in light of this information.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Intermolecular Forces
Aquaporins
Membrane Fluidity
Membrane Fluidity
Mosaic nature of the membrane
The mosaic characteristic of the membrane helps the plasma membrane remain fluid. The integral proteins and lipids exist as separate but loosely-attached molecules in the membrane. The membrane is a relatively...
Entropy and Solvation
Osmosis and Osmotic Pressure of Solutions

