Ultra-efficient mid-infrared energy absorption by water confined in carbon nanotubes

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that water confined within small-radius carbon nanotubes exhibits doubled mid-infrared energy absorption efficiency compared to bulk water, with implications for nano device design and biological channel understanding.

Contribution

It reveals a robust twofold increase in energy absorption efficiency of water in carbon nanotubes under mid-infrared irradiation, a novel insight into nanoscale energy interactions.

Findings

Two times amplification in absorption efficiency in confined water

Effect comparable to a 5 V/nm static electric field

Implications for nano device design and biological channels

Abstract

The energy absorption on nanometer scale is vital for many bio and chemical systems. We report here that a two times amplification in absorption efficiency can be achieved by water molecules confined in carbon nanotubes with small radius, compared with situations in normal bulk water, under irradiations of short mid-infrared pulses. The effect of confinement due to a (6,6) carbon nanotube is found to be very robust, equivalent to that of a 5 $V/nm$ static electric field. These findings are instructive not only for designing high-efficiency nano devices but also for understanding behaviours in biological channels.