Abstract: Disclosed herein are a neuromorphic nerve device including an artificial proprioceptor device and an artificial synapse, and a neuromorphic prosthetic device using the same. The neuromorphic nerve device in accordance with the present disclosure is simple in structure, is drivable with low power, and excellent in stretchability, so that a robot made of a soft material similar to a human or an animal can be made, and a neuromorphic prosthetic device that is comfortable for a user to wear can be made possible.

Abstract: A bandwidth configuration method and a related device are disclosed. An electronic device first determines bandwidth configuration schemes of N AP groups, and then adjusts the bandwidth configuration scheme of the AP group based on a physical topology similarity between the AP groups. When physical topologies of two AP groups are similar, if bandwidths of two APs at corresponding physical locations in the two AP groups are different, the electronic device determines a larger value of the bandwidths of the two APs as the bandwidths of the two APs.

Abstract: Chronic non-healing wounds represent a major source of morbidity for patients, and a significant economic burden. Current wound care treatments are passive and are unable to adapt to changes in the wound environment in real time. By integrating multimodal sensors and adding stimulators in a bandage, physiological monitoring is possible and provides an opportunity for active intervention into the complex wound environment. Here, we develop a battery-free flexible bioelectronic system consisting of wirelessly powered, closed-loop, autonomous sensing and stimulation circuits with tissue-interfacing tough conducting hydrogel electrodes for robust signal transduction, on-demand adhesion, and detachment.

Abstract: Certain examples include an elastic transistor having multiple layers, as a monolithic IC, to provide a stretchable high-k multi-layer dielectric that in response to a low-drive voltage, operates to provide (stable or steady-state) operation. The stretchable layers include: a high-k dielectric layer, and another dielectric layer, with the high-k dielectric layer being between the gate of the elastic transistor and the other dielectric layer. More-specific examples, useful in combination, have two types of the above-characterized elastic transistors cooperatively arranged and respectively implemented as a semiconductor with multiple different dielectric materials and as a synaptic transistor with the high-k dielectric layer including a border interface region characterized as one of a polycation interface and a polyanion interface and with the other dielectric layer corresponding to an interfacial portion along an outer border of the high-k dielectric layer.

Abstract: A conducting composition includes a topological polymer (e.g., a polyrotaxane polymer) and poly(3,4-ethylene-dioxy thiophene):polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS). Devices may include a conducting layer including the conducting compositions, e.g., a device comprising a conducting layer, wherein the conducting layer includes a polyrotaxane polymer and a PEDOT:PSS array. The devices are useful in bioelectronics, including high-resolution electrophysiological monitoring of deformable tissues and localized neuromodulation for high-precision control of individual muscle activities.

Abstract: In certain examples, a semiconductor includes a transistor having a channel including semiconducting CNTs (carbon nanotubes) material, and having source and drain electrodes separated from each other by a distance that spans at least a portion of the channel and that is in a range from 100 nm to 50,000 nm. With current passing between the source and drain electrodes and through the channel, an interface material is used (sandwiched between a first surface region of the channel and the source electrode and between a second surface region of the channel and the drain electrode) to reduce contact resistance and, with the channel, facilitate a high charge-carrier mobility.

Abstract: In certain examples, methods and devices, such as a soft electronics device, involve or include a first layer and a second layer from among the plurality of immiscible polymer layers, with the first and second layers integrated with one another to form a multilayered self-healing laminate, characterized in that polymer material in the first layer and polymer material in the second layer are cooperatively capable of autonomously recovering from at least one of the first layer and second layer being misaligned.

Abstract: One or more embodiments relate to an electrically conductive polymer with a crosslinkable additive. The electrically conductive polymer is a directly photopatternable Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) PEDOT:PSS film with cross-linked network made of a plurality of monomers. The directly photopatternable PEDOT:PSS film PEDOT as such has a better conductivity and stretchability compared to its other counterparts. The directly photopatternable PEDOT:PSS film can further be supplemented with poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) which can help with the removal of PSS. Advantageously, the PEGDA supplemented PEDOT:PSS film can exhibit a larger charge storage capacity.

Abstract: In certain examples, methods include directly applying a nanomesh in a substrate-less form, including a multitude of conductive strands connected to a sensing circuit, to a non-rigid portion (e.g., skin) of a user, and causing the multitude of conductive strands to conform to the user portion; and causing output signals to be generated, in response to movement of the user portion and to the multitude of conductive strands stretching, to indicate the movement of the user portion while the nanomesh is secured to or against the user portion. In more particular examples which simplify and provide more accurate sensing measurements, a liquid form of nanomesh is directly applied over the user portion (e.g., spanning multiple moveable user joints) and without a substrate against the user portion, and logic circuitry is trained to interpret motions of the user based on changes in the nanomesh's conductance during the motions.

Abstract: Aspects involve a stretchable composite film including a polymer material having at least a portion of the polymer material being densified through covalently-attached fluorination molecules. In certain specific examples, fluorinated molecules are covalently attached to a surface region, in the form of a layer or film (e.g., polymer semiconductor (PSC) film of a transistor substrate) to facilitate operational stability and/or to encapsulation performance (e.g., stretchability-related performance). In certain other specific examples, the surface region and a fluorinated layer are used in a cooperative configuration to provide stability in the PSC film in one or more harsh environments characterized by one or more of humid air, and immersion of the PSC film in a bio-based fluid.

Abstract: Aspects of various embodiments are directed to sensor apparatuses and methods thereof. An example sensor apparatus includes a capacitor and sensor circuitry. The capacitor includes a first substrate having a first electrode, a second substrate having a second electrode, and a dielectric layer. The dielectric layer has a plurality of apertures arranged in a pattern, the first and second electrode being separated by the dielectric layer and arranged with an overlapping area with respect to one another. The sensor circuitry is coupled to the capacitor and configured and arranged to detect normal and shear forces applied to the sensor apparatus based on changes in capacitance derived from changes in at least one of a distance between the first and second electrodes and the overlapping area of the first and second electrodes.

Abstract: An anode includes: (1) a current collector; and (2) an interfacial layer disposed over the current collector. The interfacial layer includes an ion-conductive organic network including anionic coordination units, organic linkers bonded through the anionic coordination units, and counterions dispersed in the ion-conductive organic network.

Abstract: Underwater adhesive are provided that include a hydrophobic polymer backbone having periodically embedded dynamic bonding units, where the underwater adhesive has nanophase separation between a first phase of the hydrophobic polymer backbone and a second phase of the dynamic bonding units. The resulting nanophase-separated morphology has clusters of dynamically bonded groups that are protected from water by a surrounding matrix of hydrophobic polymer backbone. This enables a pressure sensitive underwater adhesive with advantages of: no curing needed, reusable, recyclable, and good adhesion strength.

Abstract: Aspects of various embodiments are directed to sensor apparatuses and methods thereof. An example sensor apparatus includes a capacitor and sensor circuitry. The capacitor includes a first substrate having a first electrode, a second substrate having a second electrode, and a dielectric layer. The dielectric layer has a plurality of dielectric structures arranged in a pattern, the first and second electrode being separated by the dielectric layer and arranged with an overlapping area with respect to one another. The sensor circuitry is coupled to the capacitor and configured and arranged to detect normal and shear forces applied to the sensor apparatus based on changes in capacitance derived from changes in at least one of a distance between first and second electrodes and the overlapping area of the first and second electrodes.

Abstract: A bilayer coating for thermal management has a bottom layer composed of aluminum microflakes dispersed in a Nitrile Butadiene Rubber-co-Urea (NBR-U) polymer binder, and a top layer composed of nanoparticle pigments in the NBR-U polymer binder. The top layer has a transmittance larger than 0.7 at IR wavelengths, and the bottom layer has an emissivity less than 0.4 and a reflectance larger than 0.6 in mid-IR wavelengths from 7 to 14 ?m.

Abstract: Disclosed are a polymer including a first structural unit represented by Chemical Formula 1 and a second structural unit represented by Chemical Formula 2, an organic semiconductor material, and a stretchable polymer thin film and electronic device including the same. Chemical Formulas 1 and 2 are described in the detailed description.

Abstract: A battery electrolyte solution is that includes an organic electrolyte solution, a lithium-sulfur (Li2S) compound, soluble lithium polysulfide (Li2Sx) microparticles, and a redox mediator comprising a soluble quinone derivative.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a lithium secondary battery anode provided with an interfacial layer including a coordination compound and a method of manufacturing the same. The anode may include an anode current collector layer, an anode material layer disposed on the anode current collector layer and including lithium metal, and an interfacial layer disposed on the anode material layer and including a coordination compound.

Abstract: Certain examples are directed to an apparatus having a stretchable synthetic membrane material and series of patterned conductive or semiconductive sections. The stretchable synthetic membrane material may be provided with the series of patterned sections being integrated in or against the material (e.g., on similarly-configured robotic digits operating as a pair). One or more of these sections are electrically coupled to sensor circuitry which may also be secured to or embedded in the material. As the apparatus moves relative to an external object, various environmental parameters may be sensed via at least one sensor as the object and the digit(s) approach one another. Depending on how the sensor circuitry is configured, such parameters may include one or more of proximity, capacitance, temperature, impedance, contact with the object, and movement of the robotic member relative to the external object.

Abstract: A membrane-free electrochemical reactor and fuel-cell having a collection chamber between a first and second chamber, a mesoporous carbon paper cathode between the first chamber and the collection chamber, a mesoporous carbon paper anode between the second chamber and the collection chamber, the cathode is coated with an oxygen reduction reaction catalyst that imparts a two-electron partial reduction reaction to hydrogen peroxide, the anode is coated with an oxygen evolution reaction coating or a hydrogen oxidation reaction coating, oxygen/air input and output ports connected to the first chamber, KOH/water input and output ports connected to the second chamber that are in an open state under an electrolyzer mode, H2/water input and output ports connected to the second chamber that are in an open state under a fuel-cell mode, a second KOH/water input port connected to the collection chamber, and a hydrogen peroxide/KOH/water output port connected to the collection chamber.