Exploiting Spatial Ionic Dynamics in Solid‐State Organic Electrochemical Transistors for Multi‐Tactile Sensing and Processing

Abstract

The human nervous system inspires the next generation of sensory and communication systems for robotics, human-machine interfaces (HMIs), biomedical applications, and artificial intelligence. Neuromorphic approaches address processing challenges; however, the vast number of sensors and their large-scale distribution complicate analog data manipulation. Conventional digital multiplexers are limited by complex circuit architecture and high supply voltage. Large sensory arrays further complicate wiring. An 'in-electrolyte computing' platform is presented by integrating organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) with a solid-state polymer electrolyte. These devices use synapse-like signal transport and spatially dependent bulk ionic doping, achieving over 400 times modulation in channel conductance, allowing discrimination of locally random-access events without peripheral circuitry or address assignment. It demonstrates information processing from 12 tactile sensors with a single OECT output, showing clear advantages in circuit simplicity over existing all-electronic, all-digital implementations. This self-multiplexer platform offers exciting prospects for circuit-free integration with sensory arrays for high-quality, large-volume analog signal processing.