Water transport control in carbon nanotube arrays

Based on a recent scaling law of the water mobility under nanoconned conditions, we envision novel strategies for precise modulation of water diffusion within membranes made of Carbon Nanotube Arrays - CNAs. In a rst approach, the water diusion coecient D may be tuned by nely controlling the size distribution of the pore size. In the second approach, D can be varied at will by means of externally induced electrostatic fields. Starting from the latter strategy, switchable molecular sieves are proposed, where membranes are properly designed with sieving and permeation features that can be dynamically activated/deactivates. Areas where a precise control of water transport properties is benecial range from energy and environmental engineering up to nanomedicine.