CAREER: Power and information transmission kinetics in multifunctional electrolytic vascular systems

该提案的目的是研究将多种化学功能整合到类似于血管和神经系统的生物启发系统中的新范例。要研究的具体功能是通过电解质的功率分配和信息传递，以及通过电化学晶体管之间的软离子连接的信息传递。这项研究的结果将使多功能合成血管系统能够储存能量，为驱动提供机械传输，允许通信，并提高附近电子设备的计算能力。在这项工作中开发的实验结果和理论工具将有助于克服自主、控制和能量存储在软机器人中的基本挑战。虽然这些功能将针对软机器人，但它们将广泛适用于所有机器人和机器。为了实现项目目标，PI将把基础研究和教育活动结合成一个综合项目，通过课外活动、跨学科课程、本科研究和社区发展，培养新一代的科学家和工程师，使他们在电化学、电子学和机器人技术的交叉领域工作。学生将获得行业所需领域的知识和技能。新的举措还将增加女性、未被充分代表的少数族裔和第一代学生在全国电动方程式赛车比赛中的参与度。现代机器是通过集成专门的部件来设计的，这些部件擅长于单个预定的功能。相反，诸如循环系统、肌肉系统和神经系统等生物系统通过在水电解质中使用多功能化学过程而获得令人印象深刻的能力。尽管具有多种功能，但由于控制所有化学功能和与电解质接口的困难，水性系统很少被发现是机器中的活性组分。这项工作的智力意义将是通过新的实验和理论模型来理解电解流体中的能量和信息传输。从瞬态条件下多个相互作用电极的离子和溶解氧动力学研究中获得的知识将在相同的电解质中实现三种新的功能：无线分布式电力输送（模拟动物循环系统），通过电解质的直流电力和信息传输（模拟神经系统），以及通过有机电化学晶体管之间的软离子连接传输信息（用于神经形态计算）。此外，本科生将建立和测量电解流体的传热系数，并研究其储存能量和传递热量的能力。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The objective of the proposal is to investigate a new paradigm for integrating multiple chemical functionalities into a bio-inspired system similar to vascular and nervous systems. The specific functionalities to be investigated are power distribution and information transfer through the electrolyte and information transfer through soft, ionic connections between electrochemical transistors. Results from this research will enable multifunctional synthetic vascular systems that store energy, provide mechanical transmission for actuation, allow communication, and improve computation of nearby electronics. The experimental outcomes and theoretical tools developed during this work will contribute towards overcoming fundamental challenges of autonomy, control, and energy storage in soft robotics. Although these capabilities will be targeted towards soft robotics, they will be broadly useful across all robots and machines. To realize the project goals, the PI will combine fundamental research and educational activities into an integrated program that will train a new generation of scientists and engineers to work at the intersection of electrochemistry, electronics, and robotics through extracurriculars, interdisciplinary courses, undergraduate research, and community development. Students will gain knowledge and skills in areas desired by industry. New initiatives will also increase the involvement of women, underrepresented minority, and first-generation students in national Formula electric racing competitions. Modern machines are engineered by integrating specialized components that excel at individual predetermined functions. In contrast, biological systems such as the circulatory, muscular, and nervous systems achieve impressive capabilities through the use of multifunctional chemical processes in an aqueous electrolyte. Despite this diverse functionality, aqueous systems are rarely found as active components in machines due to the difficulty of controlling all the chemical functionality and interfacing with the electrolyte. The intellectual significance of this work will be results from new experiments and theoretical models to understand power and information transmission in electrolyzed fluids. The knowledge gained from studies of ion and dissolved oxygen kinetics under transient conditions with multiple interacting electrodes will enable three new functionalities in the same electrolyte: wire-free distributed power delivery (mimics the animal circulatory system), direct current power and information transmission through the electrolyte (mimics a nervous system), and information transmission through soft, ionic connections between organic electrochemical transistors (for neuromorphic computing). Additionally, undergraduate students will build and measure the heat transfer coefficient of electrolytic fluids, and study their ability to store energy and transport heat.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.