The Polymer Society of Korea

Abstract

Liquid-free ionic semiconducting elastomers are single-ion-conducting polymers that serve as non-silicon materials for interactive skin-like devices, yet ionic conductivity is limited. Here, MXene surface groups were engineered to produce positively and negatively charged MXenes and incorporated into cation-conducting (p-type) and anion-conducting (n-type) polymers to strengthen ion–dipole interactions.  Positively charged MXene was blended with the p-type polymer, while negatively charged MXene was blended with the n-type polymer, increasing the concentration and diffusivity of effective mobile ions and improving ionic conductivity. This enhancement enabled a high-performance ionic junction diode. In addition, MXene photothermal heating further produced a light-responsive ionic diode, where illumination lowers bulk resistance and increases forward current. Thus, diode logic thermally reconfigures from AND to OR, demonstrating a switchable logic-gate platform.