The human brain, as an optimal intelligent perception system, can transmit diverse external information to different brain regions for processing through visual, auditory, olfactory, and somatosensory interactions. Drawing inspiration from the neural network of the human brain, artificial synaptic and neuromorphic devices (e.g., memristor and transistor) have been developed, garnering growing interest across interdisciplinary fields for their promising applications in neuromorphic computing, artificial intelligence, brain-machine interfaces, and neuroprosthetics.However, the majority of these devices based on solid-state components predominantly utilize electrons or holes as information carriers, which are different from the brain's intelligent synapses within complex neuronal networks that employ various ions and molecules as signal carriers in an aqueous environment to regulate neuronal activities.Therefore, the fluidic neuromorphic devices utilizing ions as signal carriers have been highly desirable for their potential to achieve brain-like functions.

The Research Team Led by Professors Mao Lanqun and Jiang Yanan from the College of Chemistry reported a Optically Modulated Nanofluidic Ionic Transistor. The related research findings were recently published in Angewandte Chemie International Edition (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2025, 64, e202418949).

The abstract of the paper is as follows:

Neuromorphic systems that can emulate the behavior of neurons have garnered increasing interest across interdisciplinary fields due to their potential applications in neuromorphic computing, artificial intelligence and brain-machine interfaces. However, the optical modulation of nanofluidic ion transport for neuromorphic functions has been scarcely reported. Herein, inspired by biological systems that rely on ions as signal carriers for information perception and processing, we present a nanofluidic transistor based on a metal–organic framework membrane (MOFM) with optically modulated ion transport properties, which can mimic the functions of biological synapses. Through the dynamic modulation of synaptic weight, we successfully replicate intricate learning-experience behaviors and Pavlovian associate learning processes by employing sequential optical stimuli. Additionally, we demonstrate the application of the International Morse Code with the nanofluidic device using patterned optical pulse signals, showing its encoding and decoding capabilities in information processing process. This study would largely advance the development of nanofluidic neuromorphic devices for biomimetic iontronics integrated with sensing, memory and computing functions.

Reference：https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202418949