Blending With Insulating Polymers Enables Stable Anti‐Ambipolar Characteristics in n‐Type Organic Mixed‐Conductors for Heterogeneous Spiking Neurons
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Mammalian neurons exhibit diverse structural and physiological properties: a heterogeneity not present in current neuromorphic systems. Recent advancements have led to bio-realistic spiking systems which are based on the integration and long-term operation of organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) with anti-ambipolar characteristics. However, the library of materials enabling anti-ambipolarity (AA) is restricted by the lack of stable, fast, and scalable organic mixed ionic and electronic conductors (OMIECs) exhibiting this specific OFF-ON-OFF behavior. This complicates mimicking specialized neuron types. Blending semiconducting with insulating polymers is a classic organic and OMIEC electronics strategy to improve device performance and enable tunability, yet unexplored for improving anti-ambipolar stability in non-ladder-type anti-ambipolar materials. Here, the n-type OMIEC, P(gNDI-gT2), is blended with the insulating polymer, PMMA, yielding stable anti-ambipolar characteristics. The miscibility in solution forms a mechanically stabilizing and ion-permeable framework in the solid state that considerably reduces swelling-induced structural damage, thus preventing dramatic failure after the first operation cycles without compromising the conductive polymer's electronic pathways. Modulating the polymer blend ratio enables low-power, fast-spiking Hodgkin-Huxley neurons with tunable and programmable dynamics, without optimized device geometries, demonstrating frequency deconvolution and reservoir computing. These two computing primitive building blocks are essential for designing efficient spiking neural networks.
Source: Advanced Materials
DOI: 10.1002/adma.75538
Language: English
Subfield: Polymers and Plastics
Field: Materials Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $6,070
Funders: National Science Foundation, Northwestern University, European Commission, Israel Science Foundation, Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, Harvard University, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, Division of Materials Research, Division of Electrical, Communications and Cyber Systems, National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program
Awards: Advanced Device Concepts for Next-Generation Photovoltaics, NNCI: Soft Hybrid Nanotechnology Experimental (SHyNE) Resource, G1435316258, G1788268666, Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP), ORGANIC HETEROJUNCTION PHOTOCATALYSTS FOR SOLAR-DRIVEN GREEN HYDROGEN SYNTHESIS FROM WATER, G2233802770, G2343375527, G2788453484, G3010471893, G3203750490, G3352712625, G4137521004, Northwestern University Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, Exploiting spins for new insights into photocatalytic mechanisms for hydrogen generation, Harnessing vibration-induced enhancement of transport in functional materials with soft structural dynamics, G4737129333, G4958141111, G6066149784, G6540817556, Boost Of Organic Solar Technology for European Radiance
OpenAlex ID: W7225001068