KES5-1580
From Ion Transport to Ion State: Monolithic Synapses for Neuromorphic Physical AI
When and Where
Oct 1, 2026
16:40 - 17:05
Presenter(s)
Do Hwan Kim (Hanyang University)
Co-Author(s)
Abstract
Iontronic artificial tactile nerves are emerging as a promising platform for neuromorphic physical AI by combining low-power sensing, signal transmission, memory, and adaptive response. Solid-state gel electronics are particularly attractive because they integrate mobile ions, soft polymer networks, and mechanically compliant interfaces within a single materials platform. However, neuromorphic electronic skin still faces major challenges, including limited tactile memory, unstable ion transport, and complex architectures that physically separate sensing, memory, and signal-processing functions. In this talk, I will present sustainable solid-state gel electronics in which the ionic state is engineered as an active functional variable rather than used only as a charge-transport pathway. By controlling ion migration, trapping, release, and interfacial polarization within soft gel matrices, external stimuli can directly generate synaptic responses. This approach enables tactile perception, short- and long-term memory, adaptive sensing, and event-driven information processing within monolithic device architectures. Representative applications will include tactile recognition, biochemical and electrophysiological sensing, neural interfaces, and therapeutic electronic systems. I will also discuss how ion-state engineering can couple sensory input, memory formation, and adaptive response at the material level, thereby providing a route toward artificial perception without relying on physically separated device components. Finally, I will address key challenges in long-term stability, sustainable materials design, device integration, and system-level implementation for next-generation neuromorphic physical AI.
