Integrated Iontronic Circuits Based on Single Nanochannels

Abstract

This article presents an invention of iontronic circuits to achieve effective electronic signal manipulation base on paralleled single polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) nanochannels. The regulation of ion transport through the designed device is achieved by the asymmetrical decoration of charged polyelectrolytes on nanochannels. This circuit can serve as either a bipolar junction transistor or an ionic rectifier. The functionalities of the circuit are demonstrated and confirmed in different operation modes. The fabrication of this device is relatively simple. High accuracy in signal rectification can be obtained through the circuit because of the significant consistency of integrated ionic diodes. The iontronic integrated circuits presented in this paper provide new possibilities in the fabrication of iontronic devices with various functionalities on PDMS chips, toward improved biological computing and sensing.