A Rigid Molecular Triangle as an Ultrafast and Highly Selective Transmembrane Li <sup>+</sup> Channel
Abstract
ABSTRACT A central challenge in engineering artificial ion channels is the simultaneous achievement of high ion transport efficiency and high selectivity. In this study, we report a unimolecular Li + channel based on a rigid, C 3 ‐symmetric pyromellitic diimide molecular triangle. The structure features a defined wall height of 2.2 nm and a narrow 4.1 Å pore lined with electron‐rich carbonyl oxygens. Single‐channel measurements reveal ultrafast Li + transport with a conductance of 57.4 pS—2.5 times that of gramicidin A‐mediated K + conductance—alongside the record‐high selectivity ratios of 50.1 for Li + /Na + and 171.4 for Li + /K + . These performance metrics place this system among the most efficient and selective artificial Li + channels reported to date, while establishing a versatile molecular platform for Li + ‐selective membranes and targeted therapeutics.
Article Details
Authors (9)
Mingju Luo
Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Synthesis and Functional Discovery and College of Chemistry Fuzhou University Fuzhou China
Si‐Dan Guo
College of Chemistry Nankai University Tianjin China
Junhao Zhang
Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Synthesis and Functional Discovery and College of Chemistry Fuzhou University Fuzhou China
Wenju Chang
College of Chemistry
Dong‐Sheng Guo
College of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials (Ministry of Education) Frontiers Science Center For New Organic Matter Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin) Nankai University Tianjin China
Yu‐Wu Zhong
Institute of Molecular Engineering Plus, College of Chemistry Fuzhou University Fuzhou China
Kang Cai
College of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Elemento-Organic Chemistry, Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, Nankai University, 94 Weijin Road, Nankai District, Tianjin 300071, China
Jie Shen
Huaqiang Zeng