Nanocolloquium: Michael Strano - New Concepts in Molecular and Energy Transport within Carbon...
Friday, September 24, 2010
2:45 p.m.
Chemistry Bldg, Room 0112-Marker Room
For More Information:
Alice Mobaidin
301 405 6047
mobaidin@umd.edu

New Concepts in Molecular and Energy Transport within Carbon Nanotubes: Thermopower Waves & Stochastically Resonant Ion Channels

Michael Strano

Charles and Hilda Roddey

Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Abstract:

Our laboratory has been interested in how carbon nanotubes can be utilized to illustrate new concepts in molecular and energy transfer. In the first example, we predict and demonstrate the concept of thermopower waves for energy generation. Coupling an exothermic chemical reaction with a thermally conductive CNT creates a self-propagating reactive wave driven along its length. We realize such waves in MWNT and show that they produce concomitant electrical pulses of high specific power >7 kW/kg. Such waves of high power density may find uses as unique energy sources. In the second system, we fabricate and study SWNT ion channels for the first time and show that the longest, highest aspect ratio, and smallest diameter synthetic nanopore examined to date, a 500 μm SWNT, demonstrates oscillations in electro-osmotic current at specific ranges of electric field, that are the signatures of coherence resonance, yielding self-generated rhythmic and frequency locked transport. The observed oscillations in the current occur due to a coupling between stochastic pore blocking and a diffusion limitation that develops at the pore mouth during proton transport.

This Event is For: Graduate • Faculty • Post-Docs