1. Archaea-Inspired Switchable Nanochannels for On-Demand Lithium Detection by pH Activation
- Author
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Liu, Yang, Qian, Yongchao, Fu, Lin, Zhu, Congcong, Li, Xin, Wang, Qingchen, Ling, Haoyang, Du, Huaqing, Zhou, Shengyang, Kong, Xiang-Yu, Jiang, Lei, and Wen, Liping
- Abstract
With the rapid development of the lithium ion battery industry, emerging lithium (Li) enrichment in nature has attracted ever-growing attention due to the biotoxicity of high Li levels. To date, fast lithium ion (Li+) detection remains urgent but is limited by the selectivity, sensitivity, and stability of conventional technologies based on passive response processes. In nature, archaeal plasma membrane ion exchangers (NCLX_Mj) exhibit Li+-gated multi/monovalent ion transport behavior, activated by different stimuli. Inspired by NCLX_Mj, we design a pH-controlled biomimetic Li+-responsive solid-state nanochannel system for on-demand Li+detection using 2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)benzoxazole (HPBO) units as Li+recognition groups. Pristine HPBO is not reactive to Li+, whereas negatively charged HPBO enables specific Li+coordination under alkaline conditions to decrease the ion exchange capacity of nanochannels. On-demand Li+detection is achieved by monitoring the decline in currents, thereby ensuring precise and stable Li+recognition (>0.1 mM) in the toxic range of Li+concentration (>1.5 mM) for human beings. This work provides a new approach to constructing Li+detection nanodevices and has potential for applications of Li-related industries and medical services.
- Published
- 2024
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