Patent ID: 7638034

Claim:
A barrier structure, the barrier structure comprising: a. a first chamber; b. a second chamber; c. a barrier separating the first chamber and the second chamber, wherein the barrier comprises at least one electroactive nanopore structure joining the first chamber and the second chamber, wherein the at least one electroactive nanopore structure comprises: i. a wall defining a electroactive nanopore connecting the first chamber and the second chamber and having an electrically tunable diameter; ii. a first electrode pair disposed in the wall, wherein electrodes of the first electrode pair are disposed at opposite ends of the electroactive nanopore, and wherein a first voltage across the first electrode pair attracts a plurality molecules to the electroactive nanopore and drives the plurality of molecules through the electroactive nanopore; and iii. a second electrode pair disposed in the wall between the first electrode pair; and iv. a conductive polymer disposed over an electrode of the second electrode pair, wherein the conductive polymer is responsive to a second voltage across the second electrode pair and is capable of expansion or contraction in response to the second voltage, and wherein the expansion decreases the electrically tunable diameter and the contraction increases the electrically tunable diameter; and d. at least one power supply electrically coupled to the first electrode pair and the second electrode pair, wherein the at least one power supply provides the first voltage across the first electrode pair and the second voltage across the second electrode pair.