Enhanced absorption of microwaves within cylindrical holes in Teflon film

Earlier publications demonstrated that 0.9 GHz microwave exposure induced notable changes of the conductivity of modified bilayer lipid membranes (BLM) formed in holes in thin Teflon film (TF). The aims of this study were: 1) to perform detailed calculations of the microwave field distributions in holes formed in TF, using the finite-difference time-domain technique and 2) to model microwave heating of the hole under the conditions used in the BLM experiments but in the absence of BLM in the hole. We found that with the E-field oriented perpendicular to the TF plane the local-specific absorption rate in holes increased significantly. The increase became larger with increasing electrolyte concentration and with decreasing diameter of the hole and frequency. The calculated temperature elevations in the hole were in good agreement with those determined experimentally. These findings allowed us to conclude that the microwave effects on BLM conductivity reported previously resulted mostly from the enhanced absorption of microwave energy by the membrane-forming holes and subsequent local temperature elevation in the holes.