POS5-1211
Robust Biodegradable Multilayer Artificial Synapse with Sub-Biological Energy and Extended Memory for Intelligent Reflexive Systems
When and Where
Nov 30, -0001
00:00 - 00:00
Presenter(s)
Hyeji Oh (Ulsan national institute of science and technology)
Co-Author(s)
Abstract
Biodegradable artificial synapses offer a promising pathway toward sustainable neuromorphic electronics by reducing environmental concerns associated with the growing accumulation of non-degradable electronic waste. However, simultaneously achieving long-term memory retention, ultralow-power operation, and mechanical robustness remain a persistent challenge for biodegradable artificial synapses.
Here, we report a fully biodegradable multilayer artificial synapse (M-AS) composed of vertically stacked crosslinked chitosan–guar gum (CS–GG) ion-active layers (IALs) and a cellulose acetate (CA) ion-binding layer (IBL). Sodium chloride, embedded in the IALs, acts as a mobile ionic species analogous to biological neurotransmitters, enabling low-voltage ion migration. Upon electrical stimulation, ion migration and dipole alignment induce ion-dipole coupling (IDC) at the IAL-IBL interface, leading to partial ion retention. The retained ions generate cascade-like postsynaptic current (PSC) responses, which support memory formation.
The optimized M-AS emulates key synaptic plasticity behaviors, including paired-pulse facilitation (PPF), short-/long-term plasticity (STP/LTP), and bidirectional excitatory/inhibitory modulation under sub-millivolt operating voltages. Notably, it achieves an ultralow energy consumption of 0.85 fJ per synaptic event, lower than that of biological synapses (1–10 fJ), and the longest reported long-term memory time (5944 s) among biodegradable artificial synapses.
Integrating the M-AS with a thermistor and a robotic actuator further enables a bioinspired reflexive system that detects potentially harmful thermal stimuli, such as burns and frostbite, and performs stimulus-dependent learning and reflex-like actions. These results demonstrate its potential as a mechanically robust, energy-efficient, and fully biodegradable platform for sustainable, next-generation adaptive human–machine interfaces.
Here, we report a fully biodegradable multilayer artificial synapse (M-AS) composed of vertically stacked crosslinked chitosan–guar gum (CS–GG) ion-active layers (IALs) and a cellulose acetate (CA) ion-binding layer (IBL). Sodium chloride, embedded in the IALs, acts as a mobile ionic species analogous to biological neurotransmitters, enabling low-voltage ion migration. Upon electrical stimulation, ion migration and dipole alignment induce ion-dipole coupling (IDC) at the IAL-IBL interface, leading to partial ion retention. The retained ions generate cascade-like postsynaptic current (PSC) responses, which support memory formation.
The optimized M-AS emulates key synaptic plasticity behaviors, including paired-pulse facilitation (PPF), short-/long-term plasticity (STP/LTP), and bidirectional excitatory/inhibitory modulation under sub-millivolt operating voltages. Notably, it achieves an ultralow energy consumption of 0.85 fJ per synaptic event, lower than that of biological synapses (1–10 fJ), and the longest reported long-term memory time (5944 s) among biodegradable artificial synapses.
Integrating the M-AS with a thermistor and a robotic actuator further enables a bioinspired reflexive system that detects potentially harmful thermal stimuli, such as burns and frostbite, and performs stimulus-dependent learning and reflex-like actions. These results demonstrate its potential as a mechanically robust, energy-efficient, and fully biodegradable platform for sustainable, next-generation adaptive human–machine interfaces.
