Dynamic asymmetric mechanical responsive carbon nanotube fiber for ionic logic gate

Abstract

Inspired by biological ion channels, numerous artificial asymmetric ion channels have been synthesized to facilitate the fabrication of ionic circuits. Nevertheless, the creation of biomimetic asymmetric ion channels necessitates expensive scientific apparatus and intricate material processing procedures, which constrains its advancement within the realm of ionic devices. In this study, we have devised dynamic asymmetric ion channels with mechanical responsiveness by combining polymers of varying elastic modulus along the longitudinal axis of carbon nanotube fiber (CNTF). The ion rectification can be modulated via the disparate response of CNTF-based ion channels to mechanical stress. We have effectively employed these asymmetric ion channels with mechanical sensitivity in the design of a logic gate device, achieving logic operations such as “AND” and “OR”. The conception of these dynamic asymmetric ion channels with mechanical sensitivity offers a straightforward, cost-effective, and versatile approach for generating ion channels, highlighting their potential application in intricate, highly integrated ionic circuits.