title: Charging a capacitor from an external fluctuating potential using a single conical nanopore.
abstract: We explore the electrical rectification of large amplitude fluctuating signals by an asymmetric nanostructure operating in aqueous solution. We show experimentally and theoretically that a load capacitor can be charged to voltages close to 1 V within a few minutes by converting zero time-average potentials of amplitudes in the range 0.5-3 V into average net currents using a single conical nanopore. This process suggests that significant energy conversion and storage from an electrically fluctuating environment is feasible with a nanoscale pore immersed in a liquid electrolyte solution, a system characteristic of bioelectronics interfaces, electrochemical cells, and nanoporous membranes.
authors.affiliation: Dept. de Física Aplicada, Universitat Politècnica de València, E-46022 València, Spain.
authors.forename: Vicente
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gomez
authors.affiliation: Dept. de Física Aplicada, Universitat Politècnica de València, E-46022 València, Spain.
authors.forename: Patricio
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ramirez
authors.affiliation: Dept. de Física de la Tierra i Termodinàmica, Universitat de València, E-46100 Burjassot, Spain.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cervera
authors.affiliation: 1] Dept. of Material- and Geo-Sciences, Materials Analysis, Technische Universität Darmstadt, D-64287 Darmstadt, Germany [2] Materials Research Department, GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung, Planckstrasse 1, D-64291, Darmstadt, Germany.
authors.forename: Saima
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nasir
authors.affiliation: 1] Dept. of Material- and Geo-Sciences, Materials Analysis, Technische Universität Darmstadt, D-64287 Darmstadt, Germany [2] Materials Research Department, GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung, Planckstrasse 1, D-64291, Darmstadt, Germany.
authors.forename: Mubarak
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Material- and Geo-Sciences, Materials Analysis, Technische Universität Darmstadt, D-64287 Darmstadt, Germany.
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ensinger
authors.affiliation: Dept. de Física de la Tierra i Termodinàmica, Universitat de València, E-46100 Burjassot, Spain.
authors.forename: Salvador
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mafe
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