Intrinsic interface adsorption drives selectivity in atomically smooth nanofluidic channels

Abstract: Specific molecular interactions underlie unexpected and useful phenomena in nanofluidic systems, but require descriptions that go beyond traditional macroscopic hydrodynamics. In this letter, we demonstrate how equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations and linear response theory can be synthesized with hydrodynamics to provide a comprehensive characterization of nanofluidic transport. Specifically, we study the pressure driven flows of ionic solutions in nanochannels comprised of two-dimensional crystalline substrates made from graphite and hexagonal boron nitride. While simple hydrodynamic descriptions do not predict a streaming electrical current or salt selectivity in such simple systems, we observe that both arise due to the intrinsic molecular interactions that act to selectively adsorb ions to the interface in the absence of a net surface charge. Notably, this emergent selectivity indicates that these nanochannels can serve as desalination membranes.