Theory of Transport-Induced-Charge Electroosmotic Pumping toward Alternating Current Resistive Pulse Sensing.

Abstract

In this work, we study transport-induced-charge electroosmosis toward alternating current resistive pulse sensing for the next generation of biomedical applications. Transport-induced-charge electroosmosis, being a new class of electrokinetic phenomenon, occurs as a salt concentration gradient works in synergy with an electric field in ultrathin nanopores. Apart from the conventional electric double layer-governed electroosmotic flow in which the flow behavior is subject to the surface charge, it is found that the transport-induced-charge electroosmotic flow behaves independently of surface charge magnitude but can be linearly regulated by the bulk salt concentration bias. The reversal of the electric field simultaneously inverses the induced charge allowing the establishment of a unidirectional flow under the application of a periodic alternating current field. This unique phenomenon permits continuous water and nanoparticles pumping through a two-dimensional material nanopore in spite of the reversal of the electric field. Built upon this mechanism, we propose a theoretical prototype of alternating current resistive pulse sensing in a two-dimensional nanopore system.