Ions, electrons, and ionotronics
离子、电子和离电器件
Zhigang Suo（锁志刚）
ABSRACT
Machines made by nature—plants and animals—conduct electricity mostly using ions, whereas machines made by humans—e.g., cars, refrigerators, and phones—conduct electricity mostly using electrons. Ionic and electronic circuits, however, are coupled at human–machine interfaces in the electrophysiological study of the brain, heart, and muscle. Hybrid circuits of ions and electrons also enable batteries, supercapacitors, and fuel cells. These stunningly successful hybrids have recently inspired a rapidly developing field of ionotronics, in which devices function by both mobile ions and mobile electrons. This talk focuses on ionotronics that use stretchable, transparent, ionic conductors (STICs). Examples include hydrogels, ionogels, and ionoelastomers. Emphasis is placed on the heterojunctions between electronic and ionic conductors, between ionic conductors and dielectrics, as well as between dissimilar ionic conductors. Nature offers only one species of electrons but countless species of ions, which may translate to ionotronic devices with a wide range of physical, chemical, and biological activities. They can be at least as diverse as life itself.
自然界所创造的机器（植物和动物）主要利用离子传递电信号，而人类所创造的机械（譬如汽车，冰箱和电话）则主要利用电子传递电信号。但是，在对大脑、心脏和肌肉的电生理学研究中，离子与电子电路经常相互耦合共同起作用。离子与电子的复合电路也成就了电池，超级电容器和燃料电池。这种离子与电子的奇妙耦合与复合，推动了离电子学(ionotronics)的飞速发展，这一类器件的功能是由离子和电子的移动共同实现的。本次讲座报告的关注点在于基于可拉伸、透明、离子导电体（STIC）的离电器件，包括水凝胶、离子凝胶和离子弹性体；侧重点在于电子导体和离子导体之间，离子导体与电介质之间，以及异种离子导体之间的异质结。大自然仅提供一种电子，但提供的离子种类却不计其数，从而使得构建具有物理、化学和生物功能性的离电器件具有了可行性，就如生命自身一样多种多样。
BIOGRAPHY
Zhigang Suo grew up on the campus of Xian Jiaotong University, and graduated from its affiliated kindergarten, elementary school, middle school, and high school. He wrote his undergraduate thesis under Professor Xing Ji, at Xian Jiaotong University, in 1985. He earned a PhD degree under Professor John Hutchinson, at Harvard University, in 1989. Suo joined the faculty of the University of California at Santa Barbara in 1989, Princeton University in 1997, and Harvard University 2003. His research centers on solid mechanics. He has little experience outside universities and has no hobbies.
锁志刚教授成长于西安交通大学的校园里，历经西安交通大学的附属幼儿园、小学、初中和高中。1985年，在西安交通大学Xing Ji教授的指导下，完成本科毕业论文。1989年，在哈佛大学John Hutchinson教授指导下，获得博士学位。锁志刚教授于1989年、1997年和2003年，先后任职于加州大学圣巴拉拉分校，普林斯顿大学和哈佛大学。他的主要研究领域在于固体机械学。锁志刚教授一心扑在科研上，很少参加社会活动，也鲜有和学术无关的其他爱好。