Biomimetic self-assembly of a functional asymmetrical electronic device

This paper introduces a biomimetic strategy for the fabrication of asymmetrical, three-dimensional electronic devices modeled on the folding of a chain of polypeptide structural motifs into a globular protein. Millimeter-size polyhedra—patterned with logic devices, wires, and solder dots—were connected in a linear string by using flexible wire. On self-assembly, the string folded spontaneously into two domains: one functioned as a ring oscillator, and the other one as a shift register. This example demonstrates that biomimetic principles of design and self-organization can be applied to generate multifunctional electronic systems of complex, three-dimensional architecture.

本文提出一种仿生制备策略，用于构建以多肽结构基元链折叠为球状蛋白的过程为设计原型的非对称三维电子器件。毫米级多面体表面制备有逻辑器件、导线与焊锡凸点，通过柔性导线串联为线性链状结构。该线性链在自组装过程中自发折叠为两个功能区域：其一为环形振荡器，其二为移位寄存器。本案例证明，仿生设计与自组织原理可用于构建具备复杂三维架构的多功能电子系统。