Membranes Containing Oriented Supramolecular Transport Channels

Abstract

The surface-induced alignment of crown ether units bearing amphiphiles into columnar structures within the pores of track-etched membranes is reported (see Figure). The ion-transport properties of these membranes are characterized by salt diffusion experiments. It is found that the membranes containing oriented supramolecular channels display strongly enhanced transport rates compared to those with non-oriented channels.