Hydroxy Channels–Adaptive Pathways for Selective Water Cluster Permeation

Artificial water channels (AWCs) are known to selectively transport water, with ion exclusion. Similarly natural porins, AWCs encapsulate wires or clusters, offering continuous and iterative H-bonding that plays a vital role in their stabilization. Herein, we report octyl-ureido-polyol capable of self-assembly into hydrophilic hydroxy channels. Variants ethanol, propanediol, trimethanol used as head groups modulate the permeabilities, rejection ions. The achieve single-channel permeability 2.33 × 108 molecules per second, which is within same order magnitude rates for aquaporins. Depending on concentration membrane, adaptive observed membrane. Over increased concentrations, significant shift occurs, initiating unexpected higher permeation. Molecular simulations probe spongelike cylindrical aggregates can form generate transient cluster pathways through bilayer. Altogether, key feature influencing channel efficiency. described here may be considered an important milestone contributing systematic discovery artificial desalination.