Mechanically activated ionic transport across single-digit carbon nanotubes.

Fluid and ionic transport at the nanoscale has recently demonstrated a wealth of exotic behaviours. However, artificial nanofluidic devices are still far from demonstrating the advanced functionalities existing in biological systems, such as electrically and mechanically activated transport. Here, we focus on ionic transport through 2-nm-radius individual multiwalled carbon nanotubes under the combination of mechanical and electrical forcings.