Brain-inspired nanofluidics

Nanofluidics is the study and manipulation of molecular flows at the nanoscale¹. It is motivated by its pivotal role in biological processes, where nanoscale ionic flows govern critical functions. For instance, unlike man-made computers, biological brains rely on solvated ions to process information with remarkable energy efficiency. In this talk, I will present recent experimental advances that demonstrate how ionic computing can be realized using synthetic nanofluidic devices with memory capabilities^2,3,4,5.
I will discuss the nanofabrication processes behind these devices, shedding light on the techniques used to create them. Through correlative characterization—combining electrokinetic and optical measurements—we will uncover the mechanisms underlying nanofluidic memory. Finally, I will explore how these memory effects can be harnessed to design "liquid hardware" that dynamically and phenomenologically mimics neural circuitry, paving the way for bio-inspired ionic computing systems.

References
1T. Emmerich*, N. Ronceray* et al. Nature Reviews Methods Primers. 2024
2P. Robin*, T. Emmerich*, A. Ismaïl* et al. Science. 2023
3T. Emmerich*, Y. Teng*, N. Ronceray* et al. Nature Electronics. 2024
4S.F. Mayer*, M. Mitsioni* et al. BioArxiv. 2024
5S.K.V et al. in prep