Rational ion transport management mediated through membrane structures

Abstract Unique membrane structures endow membranes with controlled ion transport properties in both biological and artificial systems, and they have shown broad application prospects from industrial production to biological interfaces. Herein, current advances in nanochannel‐structured membranes for manipulating ion transport are reviewed from the perspective of membrane structures. First, the controllability of ion transport through ion selectivity, ion gating, ion rectification, and ion storage is introduced. Second, nanochannel‐structured membranes are highlighted according to the nanochannel dimensions, including single‐dimensional nanochannels (i.e., 1D, 2D, and 3D) functioning by the controllable geometrical parameters of 1D nanochannels, the adjustable interlayer spacing of 2D nanochannels, and the interconnected ion diffusion pathways of 3D nanochannels, and mixed‐dimensional nanochannels (i.e., 1D/1D, 1D/2D, 1D/3D, 2D/2D, 2D/3D, and 3D/3D) tuned through asymmetric factors (e.g., components, geometric parameters, and interface properties). Then, ultrathin membranes with short ion transport distances and sandwich‐like membranes with more delicate nanochannels and combination structures are reviewed, and stimulus‐responsive nanochannels are discussed. Construction methods for nanochannel‐structured membranes are briefly introduced, and a variety of applications of these membranes are summarized. Finally, future perspectives to developing nanochannel‐structured membranes with unique structures (e.g., combinations of external macro/micro/nanostructures and the internal nanochannel arrangement) for mediating ion transport are presented.