Friction-driven liquid transport through carbon nanotube/polymer membranes

Carbon nanotube (CNT) based membranes are emerging as next-generation materials due to their exceptional transport properties and high selectivity, particularly in applications such as desalination and drug delivery. However, these membranes typically rely on a complex system of physical gradients to achieve transport, which poses significant challenges for their practical implementation. This paper introduces a potential alternative method that bypasses the need for physical gradients by simply leveraging the frictional motion of the wetted interface to drive liquid transport through CNT/polymer membranes. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and comparative experiments demonstrate that the driving force of this method arises from friction-induced normal vibrations and shear-induced horizontal traction, with Coulomb interactions ensuring continuous liquid flow. This research provides more options for the driving methods of CNT/polymer membrane systems and establishes a theoretical foundation for their practical application in advanced membrane technologies.