(574e) Molecule Single-File Diffusion through Macroscopic Length of Individual Carbon Nanotube

The hydrodynamic behaviors in nanoscale channel have attracted extensive interests in the past decades. Herein, we establish a mass spectroscopy system to investigate the molecule transport in single ultra-long carbon nanotube. Heavy water (D₂O) was step inputted at the entrance of carbon nanotube and the residence time distribution (RTD) was measured by the detector of mass spectrometer. The obtained ion current-time curve was fitted and we find water and gas molecule confined in the nanotube both exhibit ideal plug flow and exit the carbon nanotube at the same time. The surprising result suggests both water and gas molecule form the single-file system and without any back mix. This work not only provides a new method for studying fluid diffusion in the nano-sized domain, but also advances the way to the development of nanofluidics.