Tuning ion current rectification in asymmetric nanopores by signal mixing

Transport properties of asymmetric and rectifying single nanopores in polymer films were studied in the presence of a sum of two periodic, rectangular voltage signals, with the aim of testing signal mixing as a tool for tuning ion current recti. cation. Current-voltage curves and net ion currents were recorded when the two voltage signals were added with a controlled phase difference. We show that changing the ratio of frequencies, the phase difference and amplitude of the two voltage inputs gives a new possibility to enhance, hinder or cancel the rectifying properties of the nanoporous system. Our experimental results are explained by a model of a doubly rocked ratchet in the adiabatic regime, presented in Europhys. Lett., 67 (2004) 179. Copyright (C) EPLA, 2007.