Nanoprecipitation in Quartz Nanopipettes and Application in the Crystallization of Inorganic Salts

The high surface to volume ratio which is a property of nanoscale devices means the interfacial effects from these devices on the mass transport of analyte can be significant. Quartz nanopipette effect on the mass transport behavior of inorganic monovalent salts such as potassium chloride is shown to differ from those of conical nanopore. Quartz nanopipettes demonstrate a more significant interfacial impact on the mass transport behavior of inorganic salts. This is evidenced by significant impacts on ionic transport even at high electrolyte concentration where nanopore interfacial effects do not significantly impact the ion transport. Nanopipettes have been use to precipitate salts such as lithium chloride in bulk concentrations three orders of magnitude below the saturation concentration. These novel interfacial interactions have opened new avenues for crystallization of more complex organic biomolecules using inorganic systems as model systems on which to base the approach for these more complex systems. INDEX WORDS: Nanoprecipitation, Crystallization, Ionic Transport, Mass Transport, Nanodevices, Nanopipette, Nanopores, Current rectification, Electrochemistry NANOPRECIPITATION IN QUARTZ NANOPIPETTES AND APPLICATION IN THE CRYSTALLIZATION OF INORGANIC SALTS