To dig into the details of the ionic transport properties of our system, numerical simulation based on Poisson–Nernst–Planck (PNP) equations was employed (Fig. S8 in Supporting information) [
44,
45]. Through the simulation, the detailed relations between the ionic transport and the system's characterization, such as geometry, charge polarity, and charge density, could be revealed. In
Figs. 3a and
b, the currents at +2 V and -2 V voltage bias with different charge distribution in BCP and PET nanochannels are presented, respectively. Besides, the concentration profiles of the K
+ and Cl
− at different charged conditions which are corresponded to the different pH solutions are showed in Fig. S9 (Supporting information). By combining the data in
Figs. 3a and
b, the rectification ratio distribution of the system is mapped in
Fig. 3c. In our model, only the factors of the charge distribution and geometry, which will largely affect the ion transport performance of the system, are considered. Fortunately, most of our experimental results can be found in the constructed rectification mapping surface. Besides, from
Fig. 3, we can get some laws between the ionic transport and the system's charged status. First, the I
2 V has the biggest value (
Fig. 3a) when the
σBCP and
σPET are 0.07 C/m
2 and -0.12 C/m
2, respectively. Along with the small |I
-2 V| (
Fig. 3b), the big rectification factor can be gained (
Fig. 3c), which is the similar situation with the experiment measured at pH 4.56 (
Fig. 2b). In the meantime, the I
-2 V has the biggest absolute value (
Fig. 3b) when the
σBCP and
σPET are −0.07 C/m
2 and 0.00 C/m
2, respectively. These results show that the desired current can be obtained at suitable charge distribution. Then, the ionic transport properties of the system with a neutral PET part are studied. Along with the
σBCP changing from negative to positive, |I
+2 V| increase and |I
-2 V| decrease, respectively. As a result, the rectification ratio in
Fig. 3c shows a symmetric pattern along with the
σBCP changing, which means that the ionic transport is determined by the
σBCP parameter. It does show rectification when
σBCP is not zero, which is not like the situation in cylinder nanochannel [
41]. So, the conical part of the funnel nanochannel is essential to its ionic transport property. On the contrary, when
σBCP is zero, the funnel nanochannel shows positive
frec, where an ion accumulation and depletion zone are formed in the channels at +2 V and −2 V voltage bias (Fig. S8 in Supporting information), respectively [
46]. Thus, the result of our experiment conducted at pH 2.89 (
Fig. 3b) can be explained. Normally, the conical nanochannel shows a negative
frec due to the negative carboxyl groups. Here, by adding a section of neutral nanochannel, the ionic transport can be tuned to the opposite direction, showing that the ionic transport of the nanochannel is a comprehensive result of different factors. Thirdly,
Fig. 3c shows that in the region with negative
σBCP and
σPET, which is the situation of the system in pH 7.06, 9.01, and 11.01 solutions, all the
frec are relatively small. While in the neighbour zone with positive
σBCP and negative
σPET, all the
frec are relatively big. Apart from the geometry, the opposite charge polarity can render the significant rectification phenomenon in the system, which is an effective way to increase the performance of the nanofluidics [
33,
34].