Rectification and voltage gating of ion currents in a nanofabricated pore

Abstract

We have fabricated a voltage sensor in the form of a conically shaped nanopore in a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) foil. The pore is produced by irradiation of the foil with a single heavy ion and subsequent etching in alkaline solution. The resulting pore functions as a voltage gate and rectifies ion current due to changes of its diameter in an electrical field. Ion currents through the pore show voltage-dependent fluctuations, whose kinetics are similar as in voltage-gated biological ion channels and pores.