Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 8, 2026
08:57
Scalable Syntheses of Graphene Oxide and Reduced Graphene Oxide using Cascade Design Oxidation and Highly Basic Reduction Reactions
Published on: July 3, 2025
2.1K
2D graphene oxide channel for water transport
Baoxia Mi1, Sunxiang Zheng, Qingsong Tu
1Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA. mib@berkeley.edu.
Faraday Discussions
|July 6, 2018
Summary
Crosslinking graphene oxide (GO) membranes precisely controls interlayer spacing, preventing swelling. Chemical groups on GO planes significantly slow water transport in 2D channels, impacting separation capabilities.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Physical Chemistry
Background:
- Layer-stacked graphene oxide (GO) membranes offer potential for aqueous phase separation via unique 2D water channels.
- Understanding interlayer spacing and water transport mechanisms is crucial for optimizing GO membrane performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To experimentally monitor interlayer spacing of GO-based membranes in aqueous environments.
- To investigate the influence of crosslinking on GO membrane swelling and spacing.
- To elucidate water transport mechanisms within GO 2D channels using molecular dynamics simulations.
Main Methods:
- Integrated quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) and ellipsometry were employed.
- Molecular dynamics simulations were utilized to study mass transport.
- Graphene oxide (GO), reduced GO, and crosslinked GO membranes were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Crosslinking effectively prevents GO membrane swelling and allows precise control over interlayer spacing.
- Chemical functional groups on GO planes were found to significantly impede water transport.
- Experimental and simulation data provide insights into GO membrane structure-property relationships.
Conclusions:
- Crosslinking is a viable strategy for tailoring GO membrane interlayer spacing for specific separation applications.
- The presence of functional groups on GO surfaces critically affects water permeability.
- Findings support the rational design and fabrication of advanced GO membranes for separation technologies.
Related Concept Videos
01:15Pyruvate Oxidation
169.1K
After glycolysis, the charged pyruvate molecules enter the mitochondria via active transport and undergo three enzymatic reactions. These reactions ensure that pyruvate can enter the next metabolic pathway so that energy stored in the pyruvate molecules can be harnessed by the cells.
First, the enzyme pyruvate dehydrogenase removes the carboxyl group from pyruvate and releases it as carbon dioxide. The stripped molecule is then oxidized and releases electrons, which are then picked up by NAD+...
First, the enzyme pyruvate dehydrogenase removes the carboxyl group from pyruvate and releases it as carbon dioxide. The stripped molecule is then oxidized and releases electrons, which are then picked up by NAD+...
169.1K
01:19Facilitated Transport
149.5K
The chemical and physical properties of plasma membranes cause them to be selectively permeable. Since plasma membranes have both hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions, substances need to be able to transverse both regions. The hydrophobic area of membranes repels substances such as charged ions. Therefore, such substances need special membrane proteins to cross a membrane successfully. In facilitated transport, also known as facilitated diffusion, molecules and ions travel across a...
149.5K
01:28Electron Transport Chains
112.6K
The final stage of cellular respiration is oxidative phosphorylation that consists of two steps: the electron transport chain and chemiosmosis. The electron transport chain is a set of proteins found in the inner mitochondrial membrane in eukaryotic cells. Its primary function is to establish a proton gradient that can be used during chemiosmosis to produce ATP and generate electron carriers, such as NAD+ and FAD, that are used in glycolysis and the citric acid cycle.
The ETC is comprised of...
The ETC is comprised of...
112.6K
03:14Oxidation Numbers
42.9K
In redox reactions, the transfer of electrons occurs between reacting species. Electron transfer is described by a hypothetical number called the oxidation number (or oxidation state). It represents the effective charge of an atom or element, which is assigned using a set of rules.
42.9K
02:12Short-distance Transport of Resources
17.7K
Short-distance transport refers to transport that occurs over a distance of just 2-3 cells, crossing the plasma membrane in the process. Small uncharged molecules, such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water, can diffuse across the plasma membrane on their own. In contrast, ions and larger molecules require the assistance of transport proteins due to their charge or size. Transport across membranes also occurs within individual cells, playing a variety of essential roles for the plant as a whole.
17.7K
02:34Water and Mineral Acquisition
35.8K
Specialized tissues in plant roots have evolved to capture water, minerals, and some ions from the soil. Roots exhibit a variety of branching patterns that facilitate this process. The outermost root cells have specialized structures called root hairs that increase the root surface, thus increasing soil contact. Water can passively cross into roots, as the concentration of water in the soil is higher than that of the root tissue. Minerals, in contrast, are actively transported into root cells.
35.8K