Bioinspired ion-shuttling memristor with both neuromorphic functions and ion selectivity
Edited by David Weitz, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA; received August 22, 2024; accepted February 3, 2025
Significance
Nanofluidic memristors have recently accomplished advanced neuromorphic functions which were not available on solid-state memristors. However, a fluidic memristor with both ion selectivity and neuromorphic functions is still a challenge. Here, we report an ion-shuttling memristor utilizing dibenzo-18-crown-6 carriers and 1,2-dichloroethane organic membrane to mimic the structure of the cell membrane. While basic neuromorphic functions such as short-term plasticity and learning–forgetting behavior could be achieved, this memristor also realized neuromorphic functions with ion selectivity like ion-selective plasticity and resting membrane potential, taking a key step for more sophisticated neuromorphic devices and applications powered by multiple ions.
Abstract
The fluidic memristor has attracted growing attention as a promising candidate for neuromorphic computing and brain–computer interfaces. However, a fluidic memristor with ion selectivity as that of natural ion channels remains a key challenge. Herein, inspired by the structure of natural biomembranes, we developed an ion-shuttling memristor (ISM) by utilizing organic solvents and artificial carriers to emulate ion channels embedded in biomembranes, which exhibited both neuromorphic functions and ion selectivity. Pinched hysteresis I-V loop curve, scan rate dependency, and distinctive impedance spectra confirmed the memristive characteristics of the as-prepared device. Moreover, the memory mechanism was discussed theoretically and validated by finite-element modeling. The ISM features multiple neuromorphic functions, such as paired-pulse facilitation, paired-pulse depression, and learning–experience behavior. More importantly, the ion selectivity of the ISM was observed, which allowed further emulation of ion-selective neural functions like resting membrane potential. Benefiting from the structural similarity to membrane-embedded ion channels, the ISM opens the door for ion-based neuromorphic computing and sophisticated chemical regulation by manipulating multifarious ions with neuromorphic functions.
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Data, Materials, and Software Availability
All study data are included in the article and/or supporting information.
Acknowledgments
We acknowledge the financial support from the Natural Science Foundation of Beijing (Grant Nos. Z230022 and 2242028), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 22125406 and 22074149), and the National Basic Research Program of China (2022YFA1204500 and 2022YFA1204503). We are grateful to the anonymous reviewers for their thoughtful comments and advice on improving this manuscript.
Author contributions
P.Y. designed research; B.X. performed research; B.X., T.X., G.G., and C.P. analyzed data; and B.X., W.M., and P.Y. wrote the paper.
Competing interests
The authors declare no competing interest.
Supporting Information
Appendix 01 (PDF)
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Movie S1.
FEM simulated animated concentration redistribution of coordinated potassium at -1 V in organic phase near the tip region (< 50 μm from the tip) of ISM.
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- 35.01 MB
Movie S2.
FEM simulated animated concentration redistribution of coordinated potassium at +1 V in organic phase near the tip region (< 50 μm from the tip) of ISM.
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- 34.68 MB
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Copyright © 2025 the Author(s). Published by PNAS. This article is distributed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License 4.0 (CC BY-NC-ND).
Data, Materials, and Software Availability
All study data are included in the article and/or supporting information.
Submission history
Received: August 22, 2024
Accepted: February 3, 2025
Published online: March 5, 2025
Published in issue: March 11, 2025
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Acknowledgments
We acknowledge the financial support from the Natural Science Foundation of Beijing (Grant Nos. Z230022 and 2242028), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 22125406 and 22074149), and the National Basic Research Program of China (2022YFA1204500 and 2022YFA1204503). We are grateful to the anonymous reviewers for their thoughtful comments and advice on improving this manuscript.
Author contributions
P.Y. designed research; B.X. performed research; B.X., T.X., G.G., and C.P. analyzed data; and B.X., W.M., and P.Y. wrote the paper.
Competing interests
The authors declare no competing interest.
Notes
This article is a PNAS Direct Submission.
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Bioinspired ion-shuttling memristor with both neuromorphic functions and ion selectivity, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.
122 (10) e2417040122,
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2417040122
(2025).
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