Charging a capacitor from an external fluctuating potential using a single conical nanopore.

ABSTRACT: We explore the electrical rectification of large amplitude fluctuating signals by an asymmetric nanostructure operating in aqueous solution. We show experimentally and theoretically that a load capacitor can be charged to voltages close to 1 V within a few minutes by converting zero time-average potentials of amplitudes in the range 0.5-3 V into average net currents using a single conical nanopore. This process suggests that significant energy conversion and storage from an electrically fluctuating environment is feasible with a nanoscale pore immersed in a liquid electrolyte solution, a system characteristic of bioelectronics interfaces, electrochemical cells, and nanoporous membranes.

SUBMITTER: Gomez V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4381619 | biostudies-other | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other