Efficiency of Brownian motors in terms of entropy production rate

Abstract

This paper presents a novel approach to the investigation of the efficiency of Brownian motors in the framework of nonequilibrium theory. We derive an explicit expression of the entropy production rate (EPR) for a chemically driven Brownian motor and use this to develop an expression for motor efficiency in terms of the EPR. Our result is consistent with earlier derivations but is more general and physically transparent and thus applicable to a wider range of biological motors. Copyright © 2008 EPLA.