Biomaterial-Based Solid-Electrolyte Organic Electrochemical Transistors for Electronic and Neuromorphic Applications

A systematic study of biomaterial-based solid-state organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) is presented in which biogels consisting of gelatin and glycerol, two food-grade materials, are chosen as the model solid electrolyte. Such gels are fundamentally attractive for bioelectronics and wearable applications due to their superior and tunable electrical and mechanical properties, which allow one to fabricate solid-state organic transistors with high ON/OFF ratio and transconductance, possible millisecond-switching speed, and 6-month stability in ambient air. Next, the authors show a good control of the state-retention property of biogel OECTs, demonstrated herein by employing them as artificial synapses with various synaptic functions, such as frequency-based short-term plasticity. This study herein paves the way for the development of biomaterial-based electronics by providing guiding principles for future works that employ biomaterials in OECTs.

Automated summary

This study presents a systematic investigation on biomaterial-based solid-state organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs), demonstrating the use of biogels made from food-grade materials as the model solid electrolyte. The biogels show superior and tunable electrical and mechanical properties, enabling the fabrication of solid-state organic transistors with high performance. Additionally, the study shows controlled state-retention properties of biogel OECTs, paving the way for their application as artificial synapses.