Metal-pad-enhanced resistive pulse sensor reveals complex-valued Braess paradox

作者：Alan Dong, Lydia L. Sohn, Michael Lustig · 发表于：Physical review. E · 年份：2023 · DOI：10.1103/physreve.108.014408 · 被引用次数：1 · 研究领域：Advanced Memory and Neural Computing、Electrochemical Analysis and Applications、Nanopore and Nanochannel Transport Studies

A resistive pulse sensor measures the electrical impedance of an electrolyte-filled channel as particles flow through it. Ordinarily, the presence of a nonconductive particle increases the impedance of the channel. Here we report a surprising experimental result in which a microfluidic resistive pulse sensor experiences the opposite effect: The presence of a nonconductive particle decreases the channel impedance. We explain the counterintuitive phenomenon by relating to the Braess paradox from traffic network theory, and we call it the complex-valued Braess paradox (CVBP). We develop theoretical models to study the CVBP and corroborate the experimental data using finite element simulations and lumped-element circuit modeling. We then discuss implications and potential applications of the CVBP in resistive pulse sensing and beyond.