Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 3, 2026

Fine-tuning the Size and Minimizing the Noise of Solid-state Nanopores
Published on: October 31, 2013
Effect of nanopore geometry on ion current rectification
Pavel Yu Apel1, Irina V Blonskaya, Oleg L Orelovitch
1Flerov Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions, Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Joliot-Curie str. 6, 141980 Dubna, Russia. apel@nrmail.jinr.ru
Abstract:
We present the results of systematic studies of ion current rectification performed on artificial asymmetric nanopores with different geometries and dimensions. The nanopores are fabricated by the ion track etching method using surfactant-doped alkaline solutions. By varying the alkali concentration in the etchant and the etching time, control over the pore profile and dimensions is achieved. The pore geometry is characterized in detail using field-emission scanning electron microscopy. The dependence of the ion current rectification ratio on the pore length, tip diameter, and the degree of pore taper is analysed. The experimental data are compared to the calculations based on the Poisson-Nernst-Planck equations. A strong effect of the tip geometry on the diode-like behaviour is confirmed.
Related Concept Videos
Patch Clamp
In this method, a glass micropipette containing electrolyte solution is tightly sealed against a small portion of the cell membrane. As a result, a patch of the cell...
Pore Transport and Ion-Pair Transport
Pore transport, also known as convective transport, is a process where small molecules like urea, water, and sugars rapidly cross cell membranes as though there were channels or pores in the membrane. Although direct microscopic evidence is limited but the concept of pores or channels is widely accepted based on physiological evidence. Despite the lack of direct microscopic...
P-N junction

