Nanofluidic electrokinetics in nanoparticle crystal

Abstract

We scrutinize experimentally and theoretically the electrokinetics of a nanochannel network in a nanoparticle crystal. Conductance of the nanochannel network, a function of concentrations of the loaded electrolyte solutions, exhibits typical electrokinetic properties of individual nanochannel but with a much larger electrical signal. A widely accepted electrokinetic equation is used to elucidate the origin of the high throughput from a top-down perspective. Using a bottom-up analysis, a stepwise modeling process from individual nanochannel to highly ordered nanochannel network is proposed to render an in-depth view of the nanofluidics network.