Bioinspired electrochemical devices toward organic iontronics

摘要

Currently, a paradigm shift of technology from ‘hard and dry’ to ‘soft and wet’ is taking place, that is, the industrial importance is moving from heavy materials and silicon semiconductors to artificial intelligence (AI) and life science. Electronic materials of hard and dry technologies are silicon and inorganic semiconductors; electrons are playing the role of functions. Of course, the materials for soft and wet are organics, and ions are working with electrons. In other words, the recent progress witnessed by ground‐breaking research in the robotics by AI and tissue engineering by induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell made it hard to anticipate about the future social life. However, food, life‐sustaining biomaterials (hormone, virus, enzyme, etc.), and energy, which are essential for life, are constantly being improved based on existing materials and technology. Biologically active organic compounds control various life functions; therefore, a fusion of biomaterials, energy, and informatics are expected to provide an efficient novel system for our sustainable growth and development. Biological functions can be imitated by dynamic control of mass and ion transfer, including conventional electronics. The author is sure that this review article will provide key technologies in the future to solve the issues on environmental protection and energy problems for the life sustainability and the need to be organized successively. The main purpose of this review article is to provide an opportunity for researchers who are interested in organic ‘iontronics’, to come together in an informal and friendly atmosphere and exchange their technical information and experiences. © 2019 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.