Haochen Feng
Contact details
Thesis title
Beyond the Continuum Limit: Ion Transport Mechanics in Angstrom-Scale Confinement
Research overview
Classical electrochemical models, based on the Poisson-Nernst-Planck (PNP) equations and Transmission Line Theory, rely on the assumption of a continuous medium. In angstrom-scale confinement, however, this mesoscale physics breaks down as discrete ion-solvent interactions—specifically the dehydration energy penalty—dominate. My research uses constant-potential Molecular Dynamics to characterize this transition, quantifying how pore-entrance kinetics deviate from continuum predictions. By integrating these atomistic insights into a modified equivalent circuit framework, I establish a physically consistent model where molecular desolvation, rather than bulk diffusion, acts as the rate-limiting step.
Research group
Integrated Computational Materials Group (ICME)
Supervisors
Qualifications
B.Eng. Mechanical Engineering, McGill University, Canada (2022)