Seminar - Luming Shen - Water flow in carbon nano-tubes

Wednesday 5 May 2010, 4.00 pm - 5.00 pm
Civil Engineering Lecture Theatre 3

Dr Luming Shen
School of Civil Engineering
University of Sydney

Abstract:
Previous molecular dynamics (MD) studies have suggested relationships that fail to predict the experimental measurements of water flow through membranes of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Based on recent MD simulations of water transport over a flow rate range much wider than ever reported (0.002-1,400m/s) and use of flexible boundary condition, a universal phenomenological logarithmic relationship between the CNT-water friction stress and flow rate, which is independent on tube chiralities, size and wetting properties is proposed. The proposed logarithmic relationship is quantitatively in good agreement with the experimental observations. It thus provides a new basis for understanding the mechanisms of liquid slip at atomically smooth surfaces.