Nanopores are tiny holes with diameters of just a few nanometers (nm). They can be found in many different materials, including membranes, and have a variety of applications in fields such as sensing, filtration, and DNA sequencing.
The first nanopore was created in the early 1990s by Alexei Efros and colleagues at the University of California, Berkeley. Since then, much progress has been made in understanding how nanopores work and how to control them. For example, it is now possible to make nanopores with very precise dimensions and properties. This has led to new applications such as DNA sequencing, where nanopores can be used to read the sequence of nucleotides (the building blocks of DNA) in real time.
Nanopores are also being developed for use in sensors. By measuring the electrical current flowing through a nanopore, it is possible to detect small molecules or even single atoms. This makes nanopores well suited for detecting trace amounts of toxic chemicals or pollutants in water or air. Nanopores could also be used to detect biomolecules for medical diagnostics or environmental monitoring.
In addition to their use in sensors, nanopores are also being explored for use in filtration devices. Because they are so small, nanopores can filter out very small particles from liquids or gases. This makes them potentially useful for purifying water or removing contaminants from manufacturing processes. Nanopores could also be used to create more efficient fuel cells by separating hydrogen gas from carbon dioxide gas before it enters the fuel cell reactions.
As research on nanopores continues, new applications are likely to be discovered. The unique size and properties of these tiny holes offer great promise for advances in many different fields