Direct imaging elucidates ionic memory in two-dimensional nanochannels
Nanofluidic memristors promise brain-inspired information processing with ions, yet their microscopic origin remains debated. So far, ionic memory has been attributed to ion-specific interactions, dynamic wetting, chemical reactions or mechanical deformations, yet typically without direct experimental evidence. Here, by combining operando interferometric imaging with electrokinetic measurements, we directly visualize voltage-induced blistering of the confining walls of two-dimensional (2D) nanochannels as the key origin of memristive hysteresis. We identify two distinct classes of blisters: unidirectional, driven by electrostatic forces on surface charges, and bidirectional, arising from osmotic pressure due to concentration polarization. This mechanistic framework explains device evolution and device-to-device variability, and reframes stochastic blistering as a functional design element. Our results constitute a direct proof of electromechanical coupling as a robust pathway to ionic memory in 2D nanochannels and open routes towards high-performance ionic memristors and electrically actuated nanofluidic valves.
Authors
- Baptiste Coquinot (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5524-596X)
- Boya Radha (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1345-7029)
- Ashok Keerthi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8479-4762)
- Theo Emmerich (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5923-4918)
- Aleksandra Rađenović (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8194-2785)
- Agustin D. Pizarro (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4789-4710)
- Nathan Ronceray (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8069-2411)
- Kalluvadi Veetil Saurav (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2017-0368)
Institutions
- École Normale Supérieure de Lyon (FR)
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- Université de Bordeaux (FR)
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria (AT)
- Université de Lyon (FR)
- University of Manchester (GB)
- Laboratoire de Physique de l'ENS de Lyon (FR)
- Laboratoire Photonique, Numérique et Nanosciences (FR)
- École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (CH)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Materials
- Published
- 2026-10-27
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41563-026-02775-4
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Nanopore and Nanochannel Transport Studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.72
Funders
- Leverhulme Trust
- European Commission
- École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
- Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung
- NOMIS Stiftung
- Horizon 2020 Framework Programme
- Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council