posted on 2022-12-19, 18:35authored byJun Li, Kaiping Zhang, Dongqing Li
Smart artificial ion channels with tunable properties
have wide
applications in many fields to achieve ion transport manipulation.
Most reported artificial ions are constructed with vertical structures,
limiting the further integration of ionic diodes into complex iontronic
systems. Inspired by the asymmetric concentration polarization induced
by the asymmetric geometry of nanochannels, a novel method is developed
to construct horizontally arranged and pH-regulated ionic diodes in
nanofluidic chips by self-assembling pH-responsive polymers. The effects
of the fabrication and operation parameters on the performance of
the ionic diode are systematically investigated. The current rectification
ratio of the ionic diode can be modulated flexibly by regulating the
pH conditions of the working fluid. An ionic diode bridge circuit
for rectifying alternating current signals is built in a single nanofluidic
chip and demonstrated, highlighting the feasibility of the ionic diode
for complex iontronic system integration. The method presented in
this paper provides a promising platform for the development of smart
nanofluidic iontronic devices with widespread applicability in biological
analysis, sensing, and logic computing.