Geometry Challenges Entropy: Regime-DependentRectification in Nanofluidic Cascades

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that nanofluidic geometry can induce regime-dependent particle accumulation patterns, including reverse rectification, challenging traditional entropic transport theories and informing passive device design.

Contribution

It reveals that geometry alone can cause complex, regime-dependent rectification effects in nanofluidic cascades, with distinct behaviors in ballistic and super-atom regimes.

Findings

Reverse rectification observed in argon nanofluidic chambers.

Funnel asymmetry drives accumulation, not boundary effects.

Geometry-based density gradients can be passively achieved without external pumps.

Abstract

Can geometry alone reshape equilibrium? Cascaded nanofluidic chambers show complex accumulation patterns, traditionally attributed to geometric diode effects. We use 3D molecular dynamics to decouple funnel rectification from boundary reflection. Simulations with argon parameters (r = 0.19 nm) reveal a striking "reverse" rectification in a 2-chamber setup: the narrow side accumulates over 5x more particles (N_1/N_0 = 5.37 +/- 0.01, p < 0.0001). In a 10-chamber argon cascade, this effect drives massive downstream accumulation. A symmetric control (w_L = w_R) eliminates the gradient, confirming that funnel asymmetry - not boundary/edge effects - is the primary driver in the ballistic regime. By contrast, the super-atom regime is dominated by boundary reflection. Our results challenge standard entropic transport theory and provide design rules for passive, geometry-driven density gradients - no pump, no drive.