Design of a Gated Molecular Proton Channel

A molecular revolving door: A gated molecular proton channel that can efficiently transport protons under electric fields was designed and tested in molecular dynamics simulations. In this proton channel a rotatable chemical group, which is attached to the inner wall of the nanopore, serves as the gate and the external electric field as energy source. The binding and release of a proton leads to the opening and closing of the gate, respectively.