Polysaccarides-based gels and solid-state electronic devices with memresistive properties: Synergy between polyaniline electrochemistry and biology

Abstract

A multidisciplinary approach to study the functional properties of neuron-like cell models constituting a living bio-hybrid system: SH-SY5Y cells adhering to PANI substrate AIP Advances 6, 111303 (2016) A new architecture of organic memristive device is proposed with a double-layered polyelectrolyte, one of which is a biological system that alone drives the memristive behavior. In the device the Physarum polycephalum was used as living organism, the polyaniline as conducting polymer for the source-drain channel. The key choice for the device functioning was the interposition of a biocompatible solid layer between polyaniline and living organism, that must result both electrochemically inert and able to preserve a good electrical conductivity of the polyaniline, notwithstanding the alkaline pH environment required for the surviving of living being, by avoiding strong acids. Pectin with a high degree of methylation and chitosan were tested as interlayer, but only the first one satisfied the essential requirements. It was demonstrated that only when the living organism was integrated in the device, the current-voltage characteristics showed the hysteretic rectifying trends typical of the memristive devices, which however disappeared if the Physarum polycephalum switched to its sclerotic state. The mould resulted to survive a series of at least three cycles of voltage-current measurements carried out in sequence. © 2016 Author(s)

Organic electrochemical transistors

“…Programmed states were stable for time-scales on the order of ~1,000 s. 148 The device was further optimized and implemented in a neural network architecture 149 and integrated with polysaccharides. 150 An OECT with a similar architecture using a polythiophene semiconductor was reported in 2013, 151 and its functionality as a memory cell was evaluated. 152 One attractive feature of 20 neuromorphic devices is their potential for low power consumption per switching event.…”

Organic Bioelectronics Development in Italy: A Review

“…In both cases, significant attention has been paid in the improvement of performances and reliability [ 133 ], the selection (or modification) of different materials [ 2 , 134 , 135 , 136 ], geometries [ 131 , 137 , 138 ] and the identification of suitable fabrication techniques [ 3 , 139 ]. These design and development processes were obtained through a deep understanding of device physics and, in particular cases, polymeric chemistry, on which the working mechanisms are based on.…”

“…The composition of the insulant matrix could be also adapted depending on the application’s needs. In [ 135 ], the authors reported the realization of a memristive device with a biocompatible solid polyelectrolyte based on pectin and chitosan, showing that the function of the device is preserved depending on pH conductions.…”