Ionic Circuits Based on Polyelectrolyte Diodes on a Microchip

摘要

A polyelectrolyte diode is a device based on strong Donnan exclusion in the electrostatic junction between two oppositely charged polyelectrolytes. This junction system acts as a rectifier similar to a silicon-based electronic p-n junction. The counterions in each polyelectrolyte plug carry charge in a manner similar to holes and electrons in a solid-state diode. A forward bias makes the counterions migrate toward the junction, while a reverse bias drives them from the polyelectrolyte phases to bulk solutions (see the Supporting Information). Owing to a difference between the resistances under forward and reverse bias across the junction, this electrical circuit exhibits nonlinear characteristics.