Nonlinear Viscous Water at Nanoporous Two-Dimensional Interfaces Resists High-Speed Flow through Cooperativity

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Physical Chemistry

Background:

• Emerging ultrathin two-dimensional (2D) carbon materials offer novel platforms for advanced membrane technologies.
• Understanding nanoscale fluid behavior is crucial for optimizing filtration performance.
• Conventional models do not fully capture water's unique properties under extreme nanoconfinement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the behavior of water confined within 2D carbon allotropes.
• To elucidate the mechanisms behind altered water viscosity at the nanoscale.
• To inform the design of next-generation water filtration membranes.

Main Methods:

• Computational simulations and theoretical analysis of water flow through 2D carbon nanopores.
• Investigation of water-molecule interactions and hydrogen bonding under nanoconfinement.
• Analysis of flow resistance as a function of nanopore characteristic length.

Main Results:

• Water viscosity dramatically increases within 2D carbon materials, deviating from bulk behavior.
• Enhanced non-bonded hydrogen bond interactions between water molecules and the carbon lattice are observed.
• Flow resistance demonstrates an inverse sixth-power relationship with nanopore size, challenging existing models.

Conclusions:

• Water exhibits distinct nanoscale behavior under extreme confinement in 2D carbon materials.
• The identified high viscosity and size-dependent flow resistance are critical factors for membrane design.
• These findings enable the development of more efficient water filtration devices with improved throughput and resilience.