Changing nanoslot ion flux with a dynamic nanocolloid ion-selective filter: Secondary overlimiting currents due to nanocolloid-nanoslot interaction

Nanocolloids trapped at the depleted side (anodic) of a fluidic nanoslot entrance are shown to sensitively regulate dc ion transport through the nanoslot, such that a second limiting-overlimiting transition occurs in its nonlinear current-voltage characteristics. The nanocolloids, brought to the entrance by electro-osmosis, are not stationary but are confined to closed circular and toroidal streamlines, driven by a back-pressure corner vortex and an orthogonal electroconvection vortex instability. The transition from the corner vortex to a complex torus with both vortical motions coincides with the first overlimiting transition, while electrostatic interaction of nanocolloids in these vortices with the nanoslot entrance drives the second limiting transition.