[TuP3H] H. Flexible materials

2:00 PM - 4:00 PM JST(5:00 AM - 7:00 AM UTC)

[TuP3H-08 LN] An All-Ionic Neuromorphic Afferent Nerve for Event-Driven Bio-Signal Interfacing

〇Wenhan Tang¹ (1. Southern University of Science and Technology (China))

Biological somatosensory systems seamlessly integrate mechanoreception, signal transmission, and synaptic integration through event-driven ionic signaling, enabling hierarchical processing with minimal energy consumption. Replicating such an event-driven sensorimotor pathway in artificial systems remains challenging. Here we report an artificial ionic afferent nerve (AIAN) that implements hierarchical, event-based processing for bio-signal interfacing. The AIAN operates through a cascade of three iontronic modules—mechanoreception, signal transmission, and synaptic processing—each activated only upon mechanical stimulation. External pressure or friction triggers interfacial ionic transport across a p–n junction, generating ionic signals that are relayed via interfacial double-layer charging with a transmission efficiency of up to 99.8%, and subsequently drive downstream synaptic integration. This event-driven cascade allows mechanically induced ionic currents to simultaneously power signal propagation and computation, eliminating the need for continuous external energy input. Direct interfacing with the rat sciatic nerve establishes an artificial afferent pathway that converts tactile stimuli into frequency-modulated muscle responses, with EMG firing frequency amplified by approximately 6.7-fold under mechanical stimulation. This all-ionic neuromorphic platform establishes a pathway toward biointegrated prosthetic systems and embodied intelligence.