title: Nanofluidic diode based on branched alumina nanochannels with tunable ionic rectification.
abstract: In this work, the synthetic alumina nanochannels with bi-, tri-, and tetra-branched geometry structures exhibited ionic current rectifications with nonlinear I-V curves. Such diode performance of the branched alumina nanochannel is mainly dependent on the cooperative asymmetry of the branched structure and the surface-charge distribution on inner walls. By regulating the geometry, electrolyte pH, and solution concentration, the tunable ionic rectification properties are effectively obtained including both the rectification ratios and the rectifying direction that were deduced from the converted ion selectivity. This nanofluidic diode may open up a new opportunity for the application of the complex nanofluidic devices in contrast to previously reported channels to provide molecular analysis, controlled mass transport, drug release, and various logic gate operations.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Bio-Inspired Smart Interfacial Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Environment, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, PR China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: MingHui
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: ZhaoYue
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhai
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000537:Aluminum Oxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000737:chemistry; D007477:Ions / Q000737:chemistry; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D007473:Ion Channels; D007477:Ions; D000537:Aluminum Oxide