Design and characterization of multifunctional mixed ionic-electronic conductive polymers

Abstract

In this talk, I will share recent progress from my research group on designing conjugated polymers for iono-electronic devices. Such devices are key to the next generation of "smart" electronics for healthcare and consumer applications. Our research is aimed at addressing the unique demands of these devices, which require a combination of mechanical flexibility, stability in variable environments, reliable signal processing, and adaptability to execute specific functions. These requirements make iono-electronic materials—where a semiconductor responds to ionic signals with detectable changes in electronic, optical, or mechanical properties—especially promising candidates. My group, the Laboratory of Organic Materials for Smart Electronics (OMSE Lab), is particularly interested in developing conjugated polymers that can overcome the primary challenge in this field: balancing ionic permeability with efficient electronic charge transport to create high-performance materials. In this presentation, I will discuss how we achieve this balance through molecular tuning of semiconductors, employing techniques like co-polymerization and composite formation to build a diverse library of mixed conductors. This approach has opened doors to applications ranging from fast-switching electrochemical transistors to highly accurate artificial synapses. Additionally, I will share how we systematically attach polar side groups to proven electron conductors to evaluate and enhance both ionic and electronic conduction, which has proven crucial for optimizing device performance and expanding their application potential. Our ongoing efforts demonstrate how these materials can contribute to a new era of functional, adaptable electronics suitable for diverse and demanding environments.

Bio

Professor Gumyusenge received a BS in chemistry from Wofford College and a PhD in chemistry from Purdue University. Before joining DMSE, he was a postdoctoral fellow of the Geballe Lab for Advanced Materials at Stanford University, working with Professor Zhenan Bao and Professor Alberto Salleo. Professor Gumyusenge’s research background and interests are in semiconducting polymers, their processing and characterization, and their role in the future of electronics. Particularly, he has tackled long-standing challenges in operation stability of semiconducting polymers under extreme heat and has pioneered high-temperature plastic electronics. At MIT, Professor Gumyusenge’s research group, OMSE Lab, focuses on developing novel organic semiconducting materials and using them to build organic electronic devices and body-machine interfaces. Through polymer design, novel processing strategies, large-area manufacturing of electronic devices, he’s interested in relating molecular design to device performance, especially transistor devices that can mimic and interface with biological systems.