Artificial water channels have emerged as a relatively new platform for desalination membranes that are inspired by biological water channels, aquaporins. During the past few years, they have been proposed as being more amenable to engineering applications than aquaporins. This is attributed to their high stability, processability, and feasibility in terms of structural and functional modifications. However, artificial water channels’ performance for both water permeability and selectivity still remain behind aquaporins, limiting their potential for practical desalination membrane developments. Here, we present a new class of artificial water channels that enable highly efficient water transport via water-wire network formation. This transport mechanism is entirely different from the traditional picture of water permeation through channel structures that have single water permeation paths per channel molecule. Experiments and simulation studies reveal that cooperative water-wire network formation enable these newly synthesized peptide-appended hybrid[4]arene artificial water channels to achieve aquaporin-like water permeability and ~10<sup>9</sup> water/salt permselectivity, which surpasses the current permselectivity tradeoff limit of polymeric desalination membranes.

Cluster formation of artificial water channels enable high water/salt permselectivity

2019 Fall National Meeting

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