Nonlinearity in the I-V characteristics in thin lipid films: Effect of AC and DC fields

The current-voltage characteristics of bilayer lipid membranes of oxidized cholesterol separating two bathing solutions have already been extensively studied under a DC electric field. The observed deviation from linearity at high field has been explained by field-induced pore formation, which then act as ion channels in the membrane. Using thin films of oxidized cholesterol and of dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine, we have reported for the first time similar deviation from nonlinearity in the DC I-V characteristics when the applied field is above 40 V/cm. Upon application of an AC field, the conductivity increases as square of frequency, while the nonlinear nature of the I-V characteristic curve is still retained at all frequencies up to 5,000 Hz. Our results indicate that besides pore formation, the intrinsic electrical properties of the constituent lipid molecules are also responsible for the observed nonlinearity.