Nanofluidic diodes based on nanotube heterojunctions.

Yan, Ruoxue; Liang, Wenjie; Fan, Rong; Yang, Peidong · Nano Lett · 2009

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

The mechanism of tuning charge transport in electronic devices has recently been implemented into the nanofluidic field for the active control of ion transport in nanoscale channels/pores. Here we report the first synthesis of longitudinal heterostructured SiO(2)/Al(2)O(3) nanotubes. The ionic transport through these nanotube heterojunctions exhibits clear current rectification, a signature of ionic diode behavior. Such nanofluidic diodes could find applications in ion separation and energy conversion.