Translational motion of water inside a CNT

It was found both experimentally and from simulations that CNTs are fast transporters of water [1]. Rasaiah and co-workers showed from their MD simulations that 

Water in a carbon nanotube nature abhors a vacuum 

Conduction of water through a CNT was found to occur in pulses. While the reason for such behavior is not fully understood, it can be attributed to the chain-like water arrangement inside a CNT. As the CNT wall is strongly hydrophobic, water molecules move smoothly without any hindrance from the wall, in a single file. 

Similar results were obtained from simulation of water molecules confined in narrow (6,6) carbon nanorings. Simulation also shows that at least two or more water chains should be present inside the nanotube or nanoring to exhibit single-file diffusion [7,8]. 

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