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Soft Ionic Diode Fabricated Using Asymmetric Ion Distribution in Li+-Zn(II)/Cu(II) Metallohydrogels
Yeeshu Kumar1, Mrigendra Dubey1
1Soft Materials Research Laboratory, Department of Metallurgy Engineering and Materials Science, Indian Institute of Technology Indore, Indore 453552, India.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|February 23, 2023
Summary
Researchers developed novel metal ion-doped conductive metallohydrogels for soft electronics. These materials, MG-Zn and MG-Cu, demonstrate promising ionic conductivity and rectification capabilities, paving the way for advanced ionic diodes.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Soft Electronics
- Electrochemistry
Background:
- Soft electronic devices require advanced materials for components like ionic diodes.
- Metal ion-incorporated soft materials are crucial for developing these components.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize novel lithium ion-driven conductive metallohydrogels (MG-Zn and MG-Cu).
- To evaluate their suitability for fabricating soft ionic diodes.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of metallohydrogels from a pregelator treated with zinc or copper acetate.
- Characterization using field emission scanning electron microscopy and rheological experiments.
- Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and band gap measurements.
Main Results:
- MG-Zn and MG-Cu exhibited fibrous networks and true gel properties.
- Ionic conductivities of 1.02 × 10⁻³ S/cm (MG-Zn) and 1.14 × 10⁻³ S/cm (MG-Cu) were achieved.
- Band gaps were measured at 2.82 eV (MG-Zn) and 2.85 eV (MG-Cu).
- The fabricated ionic diode showed significant rectification with forward and reverse bias currents of 19 mA and 1.9 mA at +/-4 V.
Conclusions:
- The synthesized metallohydrogels are suitable for soft electronic device fabrication.
- A clear mechanism for the rectification behavior in the metallohydrogel ionic diode was established.
