Geometrically induced selectivity and unidirectional electroosmosis in uncharged nanopores

Selectivity towards positive and negative ions in nanopores is often associated with electroosmotic flow, the control of which is pivotal in several micro-nanofluidic technologies. Selectivity is traditionally understood to be a consequence of surface charges that alter the ion distribution in the pore lumen. Here we present a purely geometrical mechanism to induce ionic selectivity and electroosmotic flow in uncharged nanopores and we tested it via molecular dynamics simulations. Our approach exploits the accumulation of charges in a coaxial cavity that decorates the membrane close to the pore entrance. The selectivity was shown to depend on the applied voltage and results to be completely inverted when reverting the voltage. The simultaneous inversion of ionic selectivity and electric field direction causes a unidirectional electroosmotic flow. We developed a quantitatively accurate theoretical model for designing pore geometry to achieve the desired electroosmotic velocity. Finally, we demonstrate that unidirectional electroosmosis also occurs for a biological pore whose structure presents a coaxial cavity surrounding the pore constriction. The capability to induce ion selectivity without altering the pore lumen shape or the surface charge paves the way to a more flexible design of selective membranes.