Graphdiyne-Based Ultra-Responsive Artificial Synapse with Multi-Ion Diffusive Dynamics for Mimicking Efferent Nerves

Somatosensory nerves require synapses to respond efficiently and in parallel for receving and transmiting biological signals. The gap between biological systems and conventional electronics needs ionotronics to bridge. However, the exploration of new materials and the systematic construction of ionotronics still pose challenges. Graphdiyne, a highly π-extended two-dimensional (2D) carbon allotrope, has demonstrated potential applications in ionic peripheral systems for its inherent network holes that can be used for rapid and selective transmission of diverse ions. Here, a graphdiyne-based artificial synapse (GAS), exhibiting intrinsic short-term plasticity, has been proposed to mimic the biological signal transmission behaviors. An record-breaking impulse responsiveness (±5 mV) that is an order of magnitude exceeding biological level has been realized for ultra-sensitive and power-efficient brain-inspired applications, with the lowest femtowatt-level consumption (~16.7 fW). Most importantly, GAS is capable of parallelly processing signals transmitted from multiple preneurons and therefore realizing dynamic logics and spatiotemporal rules. In a proof-of-concept demonstration, our artificial efferent nerve, connecting GAS with artificial muscles, completes the information integration of preneurons and the information output of motor neurons, which is advantageous for coalescing multiple sensory feedbacks (e.g., visual and tactile) and reacting to these events. Our synaptic element has potential applications in bioinspired peripheral nervous systems of soft electronics and neurorobotics.