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Published on: October 31, 2013
Multiple threshold potentials in nanofluidic pores with negative differential resistance
Sergio Portillo1, Patricio Ramirez2, Juan Bisquert3
1Dept. de Física de la Terra i Termodinàmica, Universitat de València, E-46100 Burjassot, Spain.
Abstract:
Negative differential resistance (NDR) phenomena are characterized by a decrease in the electrical current caused by an increase in the applied voltage beyond a threshold value. They are of fundamental interest for nanofluidic sensing and actuating because small changes around the threshold voltage can be amplified under NDR conditions. We have considered here precipitation-induced NDR effects in nanopores bathed in aqueous electrolyte solutions. In the case of multipore membranes, different NDR regions with on and off conductances appear due to distinct threshold potentials. This phenomenon should be of interest for nanofluidic multiple-state memories and multivalued input/output functionalities. As a proof of concept, we implement Boolean (XOR) and reversible (Feynman) logical functions using all-electrical inputs and outputs signals (applied voltage and current) in an electrochemical cell.
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