Voltage-gated potassium channels are a type of voltage-gated channel specific to Potassium (K+). Due to their structure, after detecting a change in voltage, the channel opens the channel gate to facilitate the flow of K+ potassium ions through the pore.
Potassium ion channels play a critical role in the propagation of an action potential in repolarizing the neuron axon membrane. After the voltage-gated sodium channels have opened and the entrance of Na+ sodium ions depolarized the membrane potential to around +40 mV, voltage-gated potassium channels also open to release Potassium ions (K+) outside the cell. This triggers the repolarization of the membrane and, since voltage-gated sodium channels close earlier than the voltage-gated potassium ones, the temporary hyperpolarization of the membrane. Only when the voltage-gated potassium channels close the membrane returns to its resting membrane potential.