Multilayered semiconductor membranes for nanopore ionic conductance modulation.

We explore the possibility of using thin layered semiconductor membranes for electrical control of the ion current flow through a nanopore, thereby operating like tunable ionic transistors. While single layer semiconductor membranes can be voltage tuned to operate as ionic filters or "switches", double layered membranes can rectify the ion current flowing through the nanopore in addition to ion filtering. Triple layer membranes exhibit enhanced functionality with characteristics similar to those of the single and double layer membranes in addition to bidirectional current blocking and switching, thereby operating similar to tunable ionic transistors.