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Ionic current devices-Recent progress in the merging of electronic, microfluidic, and biomimetic structures
Hyung-Jun Koo1, Orlin D Velev1
1Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-7905, USA.
Biomicrofluidics
|January 10, 2014
Summary
Ionic current devices, inspired by biology, are advancing electronics. Researchers are developing ionic transistors, solar cells, and memory devices using microfluidics for novel circuit applications.
Area of Science:
- Interdisciplinary science bridging electrochemistry, electronics, and microfluidics.
- Focus on ionic current-based devices and circuits.
Background:
- Biological systems, like neural transmission, inspire new electronic functionalities.
- Emerging field of ionic devices offers alternatives to traditional electronics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in ionic current-based devices and circuits.
- To highlight the potential of microfluidics in ionic device architectures.
Main Methods:
- Demonstration of ionic current rectification in diode-like structures.
- Development of ionic transistors, solar cells, and memory devices.
- Utilizing electrolyte solutions, hydrogels, and nanofilms.
Main Results:
- Successful implementation of ionic current rectification.
- Realization of complex functions in ionic transistors, solar cells, and memory devices.
- Microfluidic channels acting as integrated circuits.
Conclusions:
- Ionic devices represent a promising new paradigm in electronics.
- Microfluidics integrated within ionic devices can serve as functional wiring.
- Potential applications span from bio-inspired computing to novel energy harvesting.
