Nature Communications (Mar 2022)

Biomimetic KcsA channels with ultra-selective K+ transport for monovalent ion sieving

  • Weiwen Xin,
  • Jingru Fu,
  • Yongchao Qian,
  • Lin Fu,
  • Xiang-Yu Kong,
  • Teng Ben,
  • Lei Jiang,
  • Liping Wen

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-29382-6
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 1
pp. 1 – 11

Abstract

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Materials for the selective transport of K+ have application in a variety of fields including water desalination and separation processes. Here the authors report charged porous subnanometer cages that are inspired in biological KcsA channels; high K+ transport rates and high K+/Li+ and K+/Na+ selectivity ratios are obtained, showing great potential in advanced sieving processes and efficient water treatments.