Engineers open new field of inquiry in bioelectronics

A device created by Yale University engineers could open a new field of inquiry in bioelectronics, or the merging of biological and electronic systems. The device, a nanoscale fluidic diode, can tightly control the flow of ions in fluids, such as sodium in water. It could serve as a building block for large-scale circuits that manage the flow and concentration of ions and molecules in electrolyte solutions, much as biological systems do naturally. These circuits could be useful for future desalination or fluid purification systems, among other applications. Ions are atoms or groups of atoms that carry an electric charge. Examples include sodium, potassium, calcium and other electrolytes essential for healthy human life. "Ultimately, this is giving us the tools to do real electronic-biological interfaces," said Mark Reed, professor of electrical engineering and applied physics and the principal investigator of the research team that produced the diode.