Ion concentration polarization causes a nearly pore-length-independent conductance of nanopores

Abstract

There has been a great amount of interest in nanopores as the basis for sensors and templates for preparation of biomimetic channels as well as model systems to understand transport properties at the nanoscale. The presence of surface charges on the pore walls has been shown to induce ion selectivity as well as enhance ionic conductance compared to uncharged pores. Here, using three-dimensional continuum modeling, we examine the role of the length of charged nanopores as well as applied voltage for controlling ion selectivity and ionic conductance of single nanopores and small nanopore arrays. First, we present conditions where the ion current and ion selectivity of nanopores with homogeneous surface charges remain unchanged, even if the pore length decreases by a factor of 6. This length-independent conductance is explained through the effect of ion concentration polarization (ICP), which modifies local ionic concentrations, not only at the pore entrances but also in the pore in a voltage-dependent manner. We describe how voltage controls the ion selectivity of nanopores with different lengths and present the conditions when charged nanopores conduct less current than uncharged pores of the same geometrical characteristics. The manuscript provides different measures of the extent of the depletion zone induced by ICP in single pores and nanopore arrays, including systems with ionic diodes. The modeling shown here will help design selective nanopores for a variety of applications where single nanopores and nanopore arrays are used.