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Updated: Dec 9, 2025

Proof-of-Concept for Gas-Entrapping Membranes Derived from Water-Loving SiO2/Si/SiO2 Wafers for Green Desalination
Published on: March 1, 2020
Vesicular Membrane with Structured Interstitial Water
Yang Yang1,2, Chin Yi Chen3, Da Peng Liu2
1State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China.
Abstract:
Self-assembled vesicles with structured (tetrahedral order with strong hydrogen bonds) interstitial water are reported. The vesicles, known as MCsome, are assembled from metal carbonyl compounds, FpR (Fp = (Cp)Fe(PPh3)(CO)(CO-), Cp = cyclopentadiene, R = C3Bithiophene, C6Pyrene or C6) with the Fp heads exposed to water. The R groups are surrounded by the interstitial water with the hydrogen bonding strength variable depending on the hydrophobicity of R groups. The structure of the interstitial water is responsible for the integrity of the membrane and swelling behavior of the vesicles. This constructional role of water opens new concepts for the creation of aqueous assemblies with water-mediated functions.
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