Orientation-Dependent Ionic-Current Rectification in Colloidal Crystals

Abstract

Nonreciprocal transport (current rectification) in bulk materials is rarer and more complex than atinterfaces. We theoretically demonstrate ion current rectification in binary superlattices of oppositelycharged nanoparticles and show that this effect strongly depends on the direction of the applied electricfield. We derive an equation that relates the symmetry elements of the superlattice to the directions whererectification is forbidden. This equation is used to analyze the conductivity of different superlatticesobtained from the numerical solution of the Poisson-Nernst-Planck equations.