Substantially Enhanced Electric Potential of Confined Water via Dynamic Nanocurved Interfaces

Current understanding of nanoconfined water relies predominantly on static, non-deformable geometries, leaving the role of dynamic interfacial curvature unexplored due to experimental and characterization challenges. Here we show that dynamically nanocurved interfaces amplify the electrochemical reactivity of confined water, generating a 390% increase in electrical potential over planar nanoconfinement. Through integrated time-resolved enhanced in-situ infrared spectroscopy and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations, we uncover a synergistic mechanism: 1) Nanocurvature-induced asymmetric charge distribution dynamically reorients water dipoles, and 2) Directional disruption of hydrogen-bond networks promotes sustained water ionization along flow paths. We term this phenomenon Curvature-driven Potential Enhancement (CPE). Leveraging CPE, we engineered an ultrasensitive, non-mechanical thin-film flow sensor capable of high-precision detection in pure water, while simultaneously enabling advanced water-energy harvesting and sensing applications. Our work establishes dynamic nanocurvature as a universal design principle for controlling confined-water reactivity, with transformative implications for nanofluidic sensors, energy harvesting, and beyond.