Issue 7, 2012

Effect of gate length and dielectric thickness on ion and fluid transport in a fluidic nanochannel

Abstract

We have simulated the effect of gate length and dielectric thickness on ion and fluid transport in a fluidic nanochannel with negative surface charge on its walls. A short gate is unable to induce significant cation enrichment in the nanochannel and ion current is controlled mostly by cation depletion at positive gate potentials. The cation enrichment increases with increasing gate length and/or decreasing dielectric thickness due to higher changes induced in the surface charge density and zeta-potential. Thus, long gates and thin dielectric layers are more effective in controlling ion current. The model without Navier–Stokes equations is unable to correctly predict phenomena such as cation enrichment, increase in channel conductivity, and decreasing electric field. Body force and induced fluid velocity decrease slowly and then rapidly with gate potentials. The effectiveness of ion current control by a gate reduces with increasing surface charge density due to reduced fractional change in zeta-potential.

Graphical abstract: Effect of gate length and dielectric thickness on ion and fluid transport in a fluidic nanochannel

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
11 Sep 2011
Accepted
09 Jan 2012
First published
21 Feb 2012

Lab Chip, 2012,12, 1332-1339

Effect of gate length and dielectric thickness on ion and fluid transport in a fluidic nanochannel

K. P. Singh and M. Kumar, Lab Chip, 2012, 12, 1332 DOI: 10.1039/C2LC20869E

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