Investigating the Potential of Single‐Walled Aluminosilicate Nanotubes in Water Desalination

Abstract

Water shortage has become a critical issue. To facilitate the large-scale deployment of reverse-osmosis water desalination to produce fresh water, discovering novel membranes is essential. Here, we computationally demonstrate the great potential of single-walled aluminosilicate nanotubes (AlSiNTs), materials that can be synthesized through scalable methods, in desalination. State-of-the-art molecular dynamics simulations were employed to investigate the desalination performance and structure-performance relationship of AlSiNTs. Free energy profiles, passage time distribution, and water density map were also analyzed to further understand the dependence of transport properties on diameter and water dynamics in the nanotubes. AlSiNTs with an inner diameter of 0.86 nm were found to fully reject NaCl ions while allowing orders of magnitude higher water fluxes compared to currently available reverse osmosis membranes, providing opportunities in water desalination.

Structural resolution of inorganic nanotubes with complex stoichiometry

“…Moreover, various surface functionalizations have been achieved, either by modification of their inner surface with organic moieties 5 , 21 , 22 or by grafting organic compounds on the outer part of the nanotube 28 , 29 . The chemical versatility of INT paves the way towards possible applications in various fields, such as stimuli-responsive materials 20 , molecular storage 21 , 30 , molecular recognition and separation 5 , 31 , water filtration and decontamination 22 , 32 as well as catalysis 33 and photocatalysis 34 . Furthermore, INTs are invoked in a geological context when evaluating carbon storage, metallic cations or radionuclides storage in soils 35 – 37 , as well as markers in the evolution of the Martian climate 38 .…”

Nanomaterials From Imogolite: Structure, Properties, and Functional Materials

“…Methylated-modified imogolite nanotubes can also be used in aqueous suspensions for trapping organic molecules [135,150]. INTs could finally be employed as tuneable building blocks for filtration applications by reverse osmosis [178]. In combination with their compatibility with different polymer matrix, the fabrication of imogolite-based membranes has started to receive more intention recently.…”

Imogolite Nanotubes: A Flexible Nanoplatform with Multipurpose Applications

“…Beyond their use as nanofillers, INTs present a great potential for water osmosis desalination [161]. The control of nanotube diameter and interface combined with the possibility to capture molecules in a selective manner confer to these tubular structures a wide range of potential applications, from filtration to depollution of water.…”