EAGER: Polyelectrolyte Devices Based on Ion Current

技术总结提出了由带电聚合物制成的依赖于离子电流而不是电子电流的电路元件系列。关键材料将以聚电解质复合体为基础，通过混合相反电荷的聚合物来制备，聚合物形成无定形软物质的坚固相。该项目涉及聚合物和聚合物纳米复合材料的合成和表征。在这个新的范例中，将制造以下组件：电阻器、电容器、晶体管、存储器。这些成分中的每一个都依赖于通过这些聚电解质复合体的超薄膜创造性地控制离子渗透性。这些电阻器被设计成由外部电势控制。电容器依靠电化学储存或释放电荷。记忆事件将通过准永久的离子渗透性改变来创建。晶体管被设计成由溶液中的生物大分子直接“选通”。在紧密耦合的小角中子散射研究(SANS)中，将使用氚化聚电解质和背景的对比度匹配来确定组成络合物的聚合物组分的构象。使用带电聚合物开发使用离子电流而不是电子的非技术总和电路。就像一块非晶硅可以转化为我们文明所基于的那种电子电路一样，一团非晶态带电聚合物也可以被塑造成有用的装置。这些离子电流设备将复制熟悉的电路元件的行为，如电阻、二极管、电容器、晶体管和存储器。使用基于离子的设备的意义在于，它们更容易与自然系统集成，例如完全依赖离子电流的细胞。因此，拟议的研究将帮助我们将生活世界与电子环境连接起来。该项目将利用一些聚合物在室温下进行离子充电的独特能力，其中许多聚合物在社会上被广泛用于其他目的。在工作过程中，本科生和研究生将被要求超越电子电路的通常定义和材料进行思考和操作。他们还将使用橡树岭国家实验室最先进的设施来研究他们的新材料。该项目为来自奥尔巴尼州立大学的少数族裔学生提供了一个研究机会。

TECHNICAL SUMMARYA family of circuit components made from charged polymers and relying on ion current, instead of electron current, is proposed. Key materials will be based on polyelectrolyte complexes, prepared by mixing oppositely charged polymers, which form a rugged phase of amorphous, soft matter. This project involves both synthesis and characterization of polymers and polymer nanocomposites. The following components are to be made in this new paradigm: resistor, capacitor, transistor, memory. Each of these components relies on creative control of ion permeability through ultrathin films of these polyelectrolyte complexes. The resistors are designed to be controlled by an external potential. Capacitors rely on electrochemical storage or release of charge. Memory events will be created by quasipermanent modification of ion permeability. Transistors are designed to be directly "gated" by biomacromolecules in solution. In a closely coupled small angle neutron scattering study (SANS), the conformation of polymer components that make up the complex will be determined, using deuterated polyelectrolytes and contrast matching of the background.NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARYCircuits that use current of ions instead of electrons will be developed using charged polymers. Just as a lump of amorphous silicon can be transformed into an electronic circuit of the type on which our civilization is based, so too can a blob of amorphous charged polymer be shaped into useful devices. These ion current devices will reproduce the behavior of familiar circuit elements, such as the resistor, diode, capacitor, transistor and memory. The significance of using ion-based devices is that they are more easily integrated with natural systems, such as cells, which rely exclusively on ion currents. Thus, the proposed research will help us to interface the living world to the electronic environment. The project will exploit the unique ability of some polymers, many of which are used widely in society for other purposes, to conduct ion charge at room temperature. During the course of the work, undergraduate and graduate students will be required to think and operate beyond the usual definitions and materials for electronic circuits. They will also use state-of-the art facilities at Oak Ridge National Laboratory to study their novel materials. Built into the project is a research opportunity for an underrepresented minority student from Albany State University.