Topic: Fundamental understanding and applications of molecular and ionic transport through (sub) nanometer scale pores or channels made by 2D materials

Transport of molecules and ions in strong confined space is ubiquitous in nature and important for science and technology. With the development of nanoscience and nanotechnology, it is possible to construct nanopores and nanochannels and study transport processes in such nanoconfined space. Research efforts have been concentrated on mimicking those interesting physical and chemical phenomena that occurred in nature using man-made nanopores and nanochannels, which in turn are expected to result in new technologies important for many applications, from chemical engineering to environment and from energy to informatics. This special issue calls for a collection of cutting-edge research with the core of molecular and ionic transport under strong nanoscale and angstrom scale confinement.

Specially, new experimental and theoretical findings on the newly emerged and unexpected fluidic, electric, catalytic and optical phenomena occurred on 2D surfaces and in nanoscale or angstrom scale confined spaces constructed by using 2D crystals or their heterostructures as building blocks are presented, together with reviews summarizing recent advancement and future perspectives. Applications of these novel low-dimensional materials on the basis of their intriguing properties will also be discussed. This special issue is expected to inspire the research of a wider range of community focusing on different subjects and also encourage those who are willing to take a big adventure in this small nanoworld.

Nanopores, 2D materials, sensing, molecular sieving, transport