我组对具有孔内/上孔结构的分级设计的纳米通道系统进行了总结。

生物离子通道具有结构、组成和电荷分布不对称的特点，具有优越的可控离子传输特性，如离子选择性、离子门控和离子整流。生命通过这些通道执行各种活动，包括信号转导、细胞运动、质能传递。受此启发，研究人员从未停止过对可以实现类似功能的人工离子通道的研究。尽管在许多领域进行了成功的探索，但目前均质纳米通道尚未提供与天然纳米通道相比的足够回报。然而，值得庆幸的是，分级设计的异质纳米通道由于其优异的离子选择性、渗透性和整流特性而逐渐走上舞台，因此在选择性离子输运、能量转换、生物分子分离和检测等领域一直闪耀着光辉，我们简要回顾了在孔内孔和孔上孔结构方面的分级设计的纳米通道系统最新进展，重点介绍了其有前景的应用，包括离子选择性传输、渗透能转换、分离和生物传感。最后，还讨论了当前的挑战和可能的解决方案，以推进分级纳米通道系统的设计和应用。

Hierarchically engineered nanochannel systems with pore-in/on-pore structures

Minmin Li, Yuchen Cao, Yuting Xiong*, and Guangyan Qing*

NPG Asia Materials  2022, 15, 16

DOI: 10.1038/s41427-022-00451-y

Biological ion channels featuring asymmetries in structure, composition, and charge distribution have superior controllable ion transport properties, such as ion selectivity, ion gating, and ion rectification, by which life executes diverse activities including signal transduction, cell motility, mass and energy transfer. Inspired by this, researchers have never stopped pursuing artificial ion channels that can achieve comparable functions. Despite successful explorations in many fields, current homogeneous nanochannels, however, have not yet offered sufficient rewards comparable to those of their natural counterparts. Yet the great thing is that the hierarchically engineered heterogeneous nanochannels have gradually come onto the stage because of their excellent ion selectivity, permeability, and rectification properties, and thus have been shining brilliantly in fields like selective ion transport, energy conversion, biomolecular separation, and detection, etc. In this article, we briefly review the recent advances of hierarchically engineered nanochannel systems in terms of pore-on-pore and pore-in-pore structures, with the emphasis on the promising applications, including ion selective transport, osmotic energy harvesting, separation and biosensing. Finally, current challenges and conceivable solutions are also discussed to advance the design and applications of hierarchical nanochannel systems.