A molecular dynamics investigation of the influence of water structure on ion conduction through a carbon nanotube.

Molecular dynamics simulations are employed to investigate pressure-driven water and ion transport through a (9,9) carbon nanotube (CNT). We consider NaCl solutions modeled with both the TIP3P and TIP4P/2005 water models. Concentrations range from 0.25 to 2.8 mol l and temperatures from 260 to 320 K are considered. We discuss the influences on flow rates of continuum hydrodynamic considerations and molecular structural effects. We show that the flow rate of water, sodium, and chloride ions through the CNT is strongly model dependent, consistent with earlier simulations of pure water conduction. To remove the effects of different water flow rates, and clearly expose the influence of other factors on ion flow, we calculate ion transport efficiencies. Ion transport efficiencies are much smaller for TIP4P/2005 solutions than for those using the TIP3P model. Particularly at lower temperatures, the ion transport efficiencies for the TIP4P/2005 model are small, despite the fact that the nanotube conducts water at a significant rate. We trace the origin of small ion transport efficiencies to the presence of ring-like water structures within the CNT. Such structures occur commonly for the TIP4P/2005 model, but less frequently for TIP3P. The water structure acts to reduce ion "solvation" within the CNT, posing an additional barrier to ion entry and transport. Our results demonstrate that increasing the water structure within the CNT by decreasing the temperature strongly inhibits ion conduction, while still permitting significant water transport.