Bioinspired iontronic architectures for neuromorphic intelligence

The human brain operates as an embodied ionic system fundamentally distinct from silicon-based neuromorphic approaches, which remain disembodied and energy-intensive due to von Neumann architectures that separate memory and computation and exceed the brain’s ∼20 W power budget by orders of magnitude. By contrast, the brain couples nanoscale ionic transport, chemical reactions, and energy flow to achieve perception, learning, and decision-making. Inspired by this principle, iontronic systems use ions as charge carriers to replicate neural functions: nanoconfined channels emulate Ca2+-gated neurotransmission, asymmetric electrical double layers (EDLs) encode memory and directional signaling, and memristive ionic networks integrate plasticity and feedback.