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Related Concept Videos

Electrochemical Gradient and Channel Proteins: An Overview01:21

Electrochemical Gradient and Channel Proteins: An Overview

An electrochemical gradient is a fundamental concept in biology and chemistry. It regulates the movement of ions across cell membranes. This movement is influenced by two factors:
The electrical gradient: The electrical gradient across cell membranes refers to the difference in electric charge between the inside and outside of a cell.  This difference drives the movement of ions towards or away from the cells. For instance, if the inside of the cell is more negatively charged relative to the...
What is an Electrochemical Gradient?01:26

What is an Electrochemical Gradient?

Adenosine triphosphate, or ATP, is considered the primary energy source in cells. However, energy can also be stored in the electrochemical gradient of an ion across the plasma membrane, which is determined by two factors: its chemical and electrical gradients.
The chemical gradient relies on differences in the abundance of a substance on the outside versus the inside of a cell and flows from areas of high to low ion concentration. In contrast, the electrical gradient revolves around an ion’s...
P-N junction01:11

P-N junction

A p-n junction is formed when p-type and n-type semiconductor materials are joined together. At the interface of the p-n junction, holes from the p-side and electrons from the n-side begin to diffuse into the opposite sides due to the concentration gradient. This diffusion of carriers leads to a region around the junction where there are no free charge carriers, known as the depletion region. The charge density within the depletion region for the n-side and p-side can be described by the...
Induced Electric Fields: Applications01:27

Induced Electric Fields: Applications

An important distinction exists between the electric field induced by a changing magnetic field and the electrostatic field produced by a fixed charge distribution. Specifically, the induced electric field is nonconservative because it does not work in moving a charge over a closed path. In contrast, the electrostatic field is conservative and does no net work over a closed path. Hence, electric potential can be associated with the electrostatic field but not the induced field. The following...
Biasing of Metal-Semiconductor Junctions01:27

Biasing of Metal-Semiconductor Junctions

Biasing metal-semiconductor junctions involves applying a voltage across the junction. Specifically, the metal is connected to a voltage source, while the semiconductor is grounded. This technique is essential for controlling the direction and magnitude of current flow in electronic devices, including diodes, transistors, and photovoltaic cells.
In Schottky junctions, where the semiconductor is n-type, applying a positive voltage to the metal relative to the semiconductor reduces its Fermi...
Induced Electric Fields01:23

Induced Electric Fields

The fact that emfs are induced in circuits implies that work is being done on the conduction electrons in the wires. What can possibly be the source of this work? We know that it’s neither a battery nor a magnetic field, as a battery does not have to be present in a circuit where current is induced, and magnetic fields never do any work on moving charges. The source of the work is in fact an electric field that is induced in the wires. For example, if a stationary conductor is placed in a...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 28, 2026

Revealing Electromechanical Control of Tissue Homeostasis Using a Two-Layer Microfluidic Device
11:08

Revealing Electromechanical Control of Tissue Homeostasis Using a Two-Layer Microfluidic Device

Published on: September 19, 2025

Dynamic internal gradients control and direct electric currents within nanostructured materials.

Hideyuki Nakanishi1, David A Walker, Kyle J M Bishop

  • 1Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA.

Nature Nanotechnology
|October 18, 2011
PubMed
Summary

Researchers developed novel switchable nanomaterials using gold nanoparticles and charged ligands. Electrical conductance can be precisely controlled by ion and electron gradients, enabling new electronic functionalities.

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Electric-field Control of Electronic States in WS2 Nanodevices by Electrolyte Gating
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Electric-field Control of Electronic States in WS2 Nanodevices by Electrolyte Gating

Published on: April 12, 2018

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Last Updated: May 28, 2026

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Published on: September 19, 2025

Electric-field Control of Electronic States in WS2 Nanodevices by Electrolyte Gating
10:36

Electric-field Control of Electronic States in WS2 Nanodevices by Electrolyte Gating

Published on: April 12, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Nanotechnology
  • Condensed Matter Physics

Background:

  • Switchable nanomaterials offer potential in electronics, sensing, and catalysis.
  • Existing materials often rely on molecular switches with conformational changes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To demonstrate electrical conductance control in gold nanoparticle films.
  • To utilize dynamic gradients of counterions and electrons for tunable material properties.

Main Methods:

  • Coating gold nanoparticles with charged ligands to form films.
  • Creating and controlling long-range gradients of mobile counterions and nanoparticle core electrons.
  • Investigating the reconfigurability of internal gradients and electric fields.

Main Results:

  • Electrical conductance was modulated, blocked, and deflected by internal gradients.
  • Demonstrated the ability to direct current flow through specific regions of the material.
  • Nanoion/counterion hybrids exhibited combined electronic and ionic properties.

Conclusions:

  • Dynamic ion and electron gradients offer a new mechanism for controlling nanomaterial properties.
  • These hybrid materials are solution-processable and can be reconfigured into electronic elements like diodes and switches.