Application-guided design multifunctional mixed ionic-electronic conductive co-polymers and polymer composites
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: Aristide Gumyusenge is an assistant professor in the Department Materials Science and Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He received a B.S. in chemistry from Wofford College in 2015 and a Ph.D. in chemistry from Purdue University. Before joining DMSE, Gumyusenge was a postdoctoral fellow of the Geballe Lab for Advanced Materials at Stanford University.
At MIT, 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.