In a groundbreaking leap towards emulating the exquisite complexity of the human retina, researchers at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) have unveiled a novel neuromorphic computing system that fuses light-driven electron-ion coupling with advanced material engineering. Led by Professor Zhen Zhang and his team within the State Key Laboratory of Bionic Interface Materials Science, this pioneering effort employs a cascaded van der Waals heterostructure composed of two-dimensional nanofluidic membranes to replicate the neural signal transmission processes underlying human visual perception. Their findings, open access and published in CCS Chemistry, represent a formidable stride in bridging biological ion dynamics with artificial information processing.
Traditional neuromorphic devices have mainly mirrored neural behavior through electron-based charge transport, yet such approaches often fall short of capturing the intricacy of ionic mechanisms fundamental to biological nervous systems. In living organisms, light perception triggers dynamic ion migration pathways that underpin multifaceted and energy-efficient signal processing, a phenomenon notoriously challenging to mimic in synthetic materials. The USTC team’s innovative nanofluidic membrane design transcends these limitations by integrating atomically precise van der Waals heterojunctions into a cascading architecture. This structural sophistication crafts a continuous, spatially tunable ion transport network, thereby drastically enhancing the efficiency of photogenerated charge separation and facilitating coordinated proton migration at the atomic scale.
Central to this development is the construction of a cascaded graphene oxide (GO) and covalent organic framework (COF) nanofluidic membrane, which operates so as to achieve photoelectric-ion coupling under illumination. Unlike traditional heterogeneous membranes constrained by single active interfaces and micrometer-scale thicknesses, this cascaded design provides multiple finely engineered interfaces that operate cohesively. The result is a “Lego-like” assembly wherein the dynamic coupling between electron and ion transport channels is both robust and modifiable, overcoming longstanding challenges related to low interfacial activity and limited ion migration control in conventional heterostructures.
Experimental data compellingly demonstrate that the presence of increased sulfonic acid groups within the COF component significantly enhances membrane hydrophilicity and continuity of proton transport pathways. This molecular tuning facilitates an incremental elevation in photogenerated ion current and photoelectric potential, underscoring the materials’ capacity to transduce optical stimuli into precisely regulated ionic signals. Moreover, the heterostructure induces an asymmetric built-in electric field that promotes efficient spatial separation of photogenerated carriers. This field actively lowers the energy barrier for proton migration, driving directional and accelerated proton transport—an essential mechanism that mirrors the rapid, directed ion fluxes found in biological neural networks.
By harnessing these phenomena, the research team demonstrated that their nanofluidic membrane system can manifest synaptic plasticity and neural signal processing functions typically exclusive to living organisms. This photomodulated photoelectric-ion coupling represents an unprecedented advance in neuromorphic technology, offering a bioinspired platform that transcends mere electron-based mimicry. It establishes new physical principles for neuromorphic ion signal modulation and presages a new class of brain-like devices characterized by high adaptability, low energy consumption, and enhanced noise resistance.
Beyond its immediate implications for artificial vision and brain-computer interfaces, this innovation charts a promising path for broader neuromorphic computing applications. Historically, two-dimensional nanofluidic materials have garnered attention primarily in domains such as energy conversion, storage, and environmental remediation. The integration of cascaded van der Waals heterostructures into these membranes reveals an untapped potential to process intelligent information through physically inspired ionic computation mechanisms, paving the way for scalable and efficient brain-like information systems.
The study’s novel strategy exemplifies how precise interface engineering at the atomic level can orchestrate charge carrier behavior and ion migrations in ways that traditional semiconductor paradigms cannot. Specifically, the spatial control inherent to the cascaded heterostructure enables the construction of continuous, directionally preferential ion conductance networks, an achievement critical to replicating the multifaceted signaling and processing capabilities observed in retinal neural circuits.
Importantly, the success achieved by Professor Zhang’s group was facilitated by the interdisciplinary intersection of material science, chemistry, and bioengineering. This collaboration underscores the growing recognition that emulating complex biological functions necessitates a convergence of expertise, extending beyond electronics to include nucleation control of ion channels, surface chemistry, and photochemical dynamics. The RO-CF membrane design acts as a biomimetic scaffold where protons – key charge carriers in nerve signaling – exhibit rapid, regulated migration akin to biological synapses.
Looking forward, the implications of this research extend well beyond academic realms into the design of real-world neuromorphic devices capable of adaptive learning and sensory processing with unprecedented energy efficiency. By emulating retina-like photoelectric-ion coupling directly within two-dimensional nanofluidic systems, this work opens transformative avenues for developing hardware platforms that can integrate sensory input and perform complex, brain-inspired computations in real time.
Moreover, the scalable and modular nature of the “Lego-like” van der Waals heterostructures offers practical advantages for device fabrication, enabling tailored assemblies that can be optimized for specific tasks or environments. This flexibility makes such neuromorphic membranes prime candidates for future integration into wearable or implantable technologies, advancing the frontiers of human-machine interfaces and artificial senses.
The research received substantial support from the Chinese government and scientific institutions, reflecting a strategic emphasis on pioneering artificial intelligence and brain-inspired computing technologies. Critical funding and collaborative infrastructures, such as the State Key Laboratory of Bionic Interface Materials Science and Suzhou Advanced Research Institute, provided essential resources and analytical platforms that propelled this innovation.
In summation, this work not only provides a compelling conceptual and experimental framework for retina-inspired neuromorphic computing but also sets a new benchmark in materials engineering for artificial intelligence applications. By leveraging cascaded van der Waals heterointerfaces within nanofluidic membranes, the team elucidated a novel route towards devices that are intrinsically energy-efficient, noise-resilient, and capable of sophisticated, adaptive signal processing—hallmarks of biological intelligence translated into synthetic form.
The publication of these findings in CCS Chemistry, a premier journal of the Chinese Chemical Society, signals the global scientific community’s recognition of their significance. As neuromorphic computing continues to evolve, the integration of precise ion transport mechanisms driven by light stimuli presents an exciting multidisciplinary frontier, promising to revolutionize how machines perceive, process, and interact with the world.
Subject of Research: Neuromorphic computing and photoelectric-ion coupling within two-dimensional nanofluidic membranes.
Article Title: Retina-inspired Photoelectric-Ionic Nanofluidic Computing Based on Cascaded van der Waals Heterojunction Membranes
News Publication Date: 26-Dec-2025
Web References:
https://www.chinesechemsoc.org/journal/ccschem
http://dx.doi.org/10.31635/ccschem.025.202506841
Image Credits: CCS Chemistry
Keywords: Photoelectrochemistry, Nanofluidics, Van der Waals heterostructures, Neuromorphic computing, Ion transport, Synaptic plasticity, Biomimetic materials.
