Abstract
Integrated circuits are present in all electronic devices, and enable signal amplification, modulation, and relay. Nature uses another type of circuits composed of channels in a cell membrane, which regulate and amplify transport of ions, not electrons and holes as is done in electronic systems. Here we show an abiotic ionic circuit that is inspired by concepts from electronics and biology. The circuit amplifies small ionic signals into ionic outputs, and its operation mimics the electronic Darlington amplifier composed of transistors. The individual transistors are pores equipped with three terminals including a gate that is able to enrich or deplete ions in the pore. The circuits we report function at gate voltages < 1 V, respond to sub-nA gate currents, and offer ion current amplification with a gain up to ~300. Ionic amplifiers are a logical step toward improving chemical and biochemical sensing, separations and amplification, among others.
Highlights
Integrated circuits are present in all electronic devices, and enable signal amplification, modulation, and relay
organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) offer large amplifications, because small ionic signals are amplified into a large electronic current[13]
In conclusion we demonstrated preparation of ionic circuits that were inspired by systems in biology and electronics
Summary
Integrated circuits are present in all electronic devices, and enable signal amplification, modulation, and relay Nature uses another type of circuits composed of channels in a cell membrane, which regulate and amplify transport of ions, not electrons and holes as is done in electronic systems. The key players in physiological processes are biological channels in a cell membrane that facilitate exchange of ions and molecules, for instance between the intracellular and extracellular spaces in cells and tissues This transmembrane ionic transport is often the first step in a biological amplification process, which enables sensing external stimuli including light, sound, and odor. One of the first ionic circuits was composed of four biological α-hemolysin channels, where individual channels had been chemically modified so that they functioned as ionic diodes[6] Connecting four such channels into a circuit known from electronics as a bridge rectifier enabled changing alternating current into direct current.
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