Highly reconfigurable neuronlike conductive networks through nanophase structure engineering

Bionic electronics are designed to bridge the gap between biological systems and conventional electronic devices. However, replicating the high dynamic adaptivity and functional plasticity of living tissues while preserving the electrical performance and structural integrity of traditional electronics remains highly challenging, owing to the intrinsic trade-offs in molecular design. To address this issue, a methodology of reversible nanophase regulation is proposed, inspired by ion-specific effects in biological environments. Benefiting from the dynamic response of noncovalent interaction to specific ions, the developed system can successfully integrate multiple traditionally contradictory properties–combining outstanding electrical/mechanical performance with excellent reconfigurability, such as re-writability of conductive pathways, in-situ wet solderability with good spatial resolution, and closed-loop recyclability. This methodology offers a promising framework for designing reconfigurable devices for bioelectronics applications such as human-machine integration and tissue engineering. Man-made electronics often face trade-offs among biological-like plasticity, electrical performance, and structural integrity. The authors show that ion-specific effects in biology can be leveraged to create reconfigurable materials for bionic electronics.