Steady-state simulation of mono-valent ion distributions within a nanofluidic channel

W. Booth[1], J. Schiffbauer[1], J. Fernandez[2], K. Kelley[3], A. Timperman[3], and B. Edwards[1]

[1]Physics Department, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
[2]Chemical Engineering Department, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
[3]Chemistry Department, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
Published in 2008

The steady-state non-equilibrium distributions of two species of mono-valent ions around a charged nanofluidic channel have been examined. Large reservoirs were placed on either side of the nanoscale channel to simulate bulk concentration of ions in a fluid.

Results from COMSOL Multiphysics simulations show that the effect of the potential bias across the nanochannel yields a significant depletion zone of ion concentrations near the end of the nanochannel.

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