Figure 5.

Schematics of a tunable/switchable molecular sieve based on CNA. (a) CNA-based composites may be used for sieving purposes, because their tunable pore width distribution induces different mass transport properties within pores. Thanks to Equations 4 and 7, CNA-based sieves may be designed for being selectively permeable to different nanoparticles or molecules, according to their size and chemical functionalization. (b) Sieving properties may also be influenced by the application of electrostatic field on CNA, which enhances δ of CNTs thus slowing down water dynamics and overall mass transport properties of the sieve. Hence, permeation features of CNAs may be precisely tuned and dynamically switched.