EAGER: Polyelectrolyte Devices Based on Ion Current

提出了一种由带电聚合物制成并依赖于离子电流而不是电子电流的电路元件族。关键材料将基于通过混合相反电荷的聚合物制备的纳米复合物，这种聚合物形成了一种粗糙的无定形软物质相。该项目涉及聚合物和聚合物纳米复合材料的合成和表征。以下组件将在这个新的范例中制造：电阻器，电容器，晶体管，存储器。这些组分中的每一种都依赖于对通过这些双金属络合物的双金属膜的离子渗透性的创造性控制。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。记忆事件将通过离子渗透性的准永久修改来创建。晶体管被设计成由溶液中的生物大分子直接“门控”。在紧密耦合小角中子散射研究（SANS）中，将使用氘代聚电解质和背景对比度匹配来确定构成复合物的聚合物组分的构象。非技术总结使用离子电流而不是电子电流的电路将使用带电聚合物开发。就像一块非晶硅可以转变成我们文明所依赖的电子电路一样，一团无定形的带电聚合物也可以被塑造成有用的器件。这些离子电流器件将再现熟悉的电路元件的行为，如电阻器、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完全依赖离子电流的自然系统（如细胞）集成。因此，拟议的研究将有助于我们将生活世界与电子环境相结合。该项目将利用一些聚合物的独特能力，其中许多聚合物在社会上广泛用于其他目的，在室温下传导离子电荷。在工作过程中，本科生和研究生将被要求思考和操作超出通常的定义和材料的电子电路。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一名代表性不足的少数民族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.