The distributed network of receptors, neurons, and synapses in the somatosensory system efficiently processes complex tactile information. We used flexible organic electronics to mimic the functions ...of a sensory nerve. Our artificial afferent nerve collects pressure information (1 to 80 kilopascals) from clusters of pressure sensors, converts the pressure information into action potentials (0 to 100 hertz) by using ring oscillators, and integrates the action potentials from multiple ring oscillators with a synaptic transistor. Biomimetic hierarchical structures can detect movement of an object, combine simultaneous pressure inputs, and distinguish braille characters. Furthermore, we connected our artificial afferent nerve to motor nerves to construct a hybrid bioelectronic reflex arc to actuate muscles. Our system has potential applications in neurorobotics and neuroprosthetics.
A self-healing dielectric elastomer is achieved by the incorporation of metal–ligand coordination as cross-linking sites in nonpolar polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) polymers. The ligand is ...2,2′-bipyridine-5,5′-dicarboxylic amide, while the metal salts investigated here are Fe2+ and Zn2+ with various counteranions. The kinetically labile coordination between Zn2+ and bipyridine endows the polymer fast self-healing ability at ambient condition. When integrated into organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) as gate dielectrics, transistors with FeCl2 and ZnCl2 salts cross-linked PDMS exhibited increased dielectric constants compared to PDMS and demonstrated hysteresis-free transfer characteristics, owing to the low ion conductivity in PDMS and the strong columbic interaction between metal cations and the small Cl– anions which can prevent mobile anions drifting under gate bias. Fully stretchable transistors with FeCl2-PDMS dielectrics were fabricated and exhibited ideal transfer characteristics. The gate leakage current remained low even after 1000 cycles at 100% strain. The mechanical robustness and stable electrical performance proved its suitability for applications in stretchable electronics. On the other hand, transistors with gate dielectrics containing large-sized anions (BF4 –, ClO4 –, CF3SO3 –) displayed prominent hysteresis due to mobile anions drifting under gate bias voltage. This work provides insights on future design of self-healing stretchable dielectric materials based on metal–ligand cross-linked polymers.
Increasing performance demands and shorter use lifetimes of consumer electronics have resulted in the rapid growth of electronic waste. Currently, consumer electronics are typically made with ...nondecomposable, nonbiocompatible, and sometimes even toxic materials, leading to serious ecological challenges worldwide. Here, we report an example of totally disintegrable and biocompatible semiconducting polymers for thin-film transistors. The polymer consists of reversible imine bonds and building blocks that can be easily decomposed under mild acidic conditions. In addition, an ultrathin (800-nm) biodegradable cellulose substrate with high chemical and thermal stability is developed. Coupled with iron electrodes, we have successfully fabricated fully disintegrable and biocompatible polymer transistors. Furthermore, disintegrable and biocompatible pseudo-complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) flexible circuits are demonstrated. These flexible circuits are ultrathin (<1 μm) and ultralightweight (∼2 g/m²) with low operating voltage (4 V), yielding potential applications of these disintegrable semiconducting polymers in low-cost, biocompatible, and ultralightweight transient electronics.
Biological systems sense and respond to mechanical stimuli in a complex manner. In an effort to develop synthetic materials that transduce mechanical force into multifold changes in their intrinsic ...properties, we report on a mechanochemically responsive nonconjugated polymer that converts to a conjugated polymer via an extensive rearrangement of the macromolecular structure in response to force. Our design is based on the facile mechanochemical unzipping of polyladderene, a polymer inspired by a lipid natural product structure and prepared via direct metathesis polymerization. The resultant polyacetylene block copolymers exhibit long conjugation length and uniform trans-configuration and self-assemble into semiconducting nanowires. Calculations support a tandem unzipping mechanism of the ladderene units.
The ability to monitor blood flow is critical to patient recovery and patient outcomes after complex reconstructive surgeries. Clinically available wired implantable monitoring technology requires ...careful fixation for accurate detection and needs to be removed after use. Here, we report the design of a pressure sensor, made entirely of biodegradable materials and based on fringe-field capacitor technology, for measuring arterial blood flow in both contact and non-contact modes. The sensor is operated wirelessly through inductive coupling, has minimal hysteresis, fast response times, excellent cycling stability, is highly robust, allows for easy mounting and eliminates the need for removal, thus reducing the risk of vessel trauma. We demonstrate the operation of the sensor with a custom-made artificial artery model and in vivo in rats. This technology may be advantageous in real-time post-operative monitoring of blood flow after reconstructive surgery.
Mechanically durable stretchable transistors are fabricated using carbon nanotube electrical components and tough thermoplastic elastomers. After an initial conditioning step, the electrical ...characteristics remain constant with strain. The strain‐dependent characteristics are similar in orthogonal stretching directions. Devices can be impacted with a hammer and punctured with a needle while remaining functional and stretchable.
Previous breakthroughs in stretchable electronics stem from strain engineering and nanocomposite approaches. Routes toward intrinsically stretchable molecular materials remain scarce but, if ...successful, will enable simpler fabrication processes, such as direct printing and coating, mechanically robust devices, and more intimate contact with objects. We report a highly stretchable conducting polymer, realized with a range of enhancers that serve a dual function: (i) they change morphology and (ii) they act as conductivity-enhancing dopants in poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS). The polymer films exhibit conductivities comparable to the best reported values for PEDOT:PSS, with over 3100 S/cm under 0% strain and over 4100 S/cm under 100% strain-among the highest for reported stretchable conductors. It is highly durable under cyclic loading, with the conductivity maintained at 3600 S/cm even after 1000 cycles to 100% strain. The conductivity remained above 100 S/cm under 600% strain, with a fracture strain of 800%, which is superior to even the best silver nanowire- or carbon nanotube-based stretchable conductor films. The combination of excellent electrical and mechanical properties allowed it to serve as interconnects for field-effect transistor arrays with a device density that is five times higher than typical lithographically patterned wavy interconnects.
The development of low‐cost printed organic electronics entails the processing of active organic semiconductors (OSCs) through solution‐based techniques. However, the preparation of large‐area ...uniform and reproducible films based on OSC inks can be very challenging due to the low viscosity of their solutions, which causes dewetting problems, the low stability of OSC polymer solutions, or the difficulty in achieving appropriate crystal order. To circumvent this, a promising route is the use of blends of OSCs and insulating binding polymers. This approach typically gives rise to films with an enhanced crystallinity and organic field‐effect transistors (OFETs) with significantly improved device performance. Recent progress in the fabrication of OFETs based on OSC/binding polymer inks is reviewed, highlighting the main morphological and structural features that play a major role in determining the final electrical properties and some future perspectives. Undoubtedly, the use of these types of blends results in more reliable and reproducible devices that can be fabricated on large areas and at low cost and, thus, this methodology brings great expectations for the implementation of OSCs in real‐world applications.
Recent progress on the use of organic semiconductors blended with insulating binding polymers as active materials in organic transistors is overviewed. This route leads to more reliable, less expensive devices with enhanced electrical performance.
A key device component in organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) is the organic semiconductor/metal interface since it has to ensure efficient charge injection. Traditionally, inorganic metals have ...been employed in these devices using conventional lithographic fabrication techniques. Metals with low or high work-functions have been selected depending on the type of semiconductor measured and, in some cases, the metal has been covered with molecular self-assembled monolayers to tune the work function, improve the molecular order at the interface and reduce the contact resistance. However, in the last few years, some approaches have been focused on utilizing organic metals in these devices, which have been fabricated by means of both evaporation and solution-processed techniques. Higher device performances have often been observed, which have been attributed to a range of factors, such as a more favourable organic/organic interface, a better matching of energy levels or/and to a reduction of the contact resistance. Further, in contrast to their inorganic counterparts, organic metals allow their chemical modification and thus the tuning of the Fermi level. In this perspective paper, an overview of the recent work devoted to the fabrication of OFETs with organic metals as electrodes will be carried out. It will be shown that in these devices not only is the matching of the HOMO or LUMO of the semiconductor with the metal work-function important, but other aspects such as the interface morphology can also play a critical role. Also, recent approaches in which the use of organic charge transfer salts as buffer layers at the metal contacts or on the dielectric or as doping agents of the organic semiconductors that have been used to improve the device performance will be briefly described.
The use of charge transfer salts in OFETs offers unique possibilities for enhancing the device performance.
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