Optically modulated ionic conductivity in a hydrogel for emulating synaptic functions.

Ion-conductive hydrogels, with ions as signal carriers, have become promising candidates to construct functional ionotronics for sensing, actuating, and robotics engineering. However, rational modulation of ionic migration to mimic biological information processing, including learning and memory, remains challenging to be realized in hydrogel materials. Here, we develop a hybrid hydrogel with optically modulated ionic conductivity to emulate the functions of a biological synapse.

Reconfigurable Touch Panel Based on a Conductive Thixotropic Supramolecular Hydrogel.

Touch panels based on ionic conductive hydrogels perform excellent flexibility and biocompatibility, becoming promising candidates for the next-generation human-machine interface. However, these ionic hydrogels are usually composed of cross-linked polymeric networks that are difficult to be recycled or reconfigured, resulting in environmental issues. Herein, we designed a lithium ion-triggered gelation strategy to provide a conductive molecular hydrogel with thixotropy, which can be mechanically recycled or reconfigured at room temperature.

Pillar[5]arene-based [1]rotaxane: high-yield synthesis, characterization and application in Knoevenagel reaction.

We report a quantitative synthetic strategy of a [1]rotaxane from a representative pseudo[1]rotaxane. The structure of the [1]rotaxane was characterized by H NMR, C NMR, 2D NMR, mass spectroscopy, and melting point, and its optimized geometry in CHCl by theoretical calculation at the B3LYP/6-31G(D) level using the PCM model matched well with 2D NOESY. This [1]rotaxane proves to be a good catalyst for the Knoevenagel reaction in CHCl, which follows second order kinetics.