We have attempted to realize bio-inspired signal/information processing device using immiscible polymer binary mixture. Before device fabrication, we showed an essential property that mimicked bio-inspired signal/information processing using analog electric circuits. Based on above findings, we fabricated the stochastic delay-derivative element [SDDE] using nano-thin films of the polymeric binary mixtures. These thin films contain poly(L-lactic acid)[PLLA]/poly(ε-caprolactone) [PCL]. While PLLA was used as a high-Tm material, PCL was used as a low-Tm one. Therefore, we expected that spatio-temporal fluctuations of complex impedance for SDDE could be enhanced by three factors: crystallization/glass transition of PLLA, crystallization/melting of PCL, and phase separation dynamics for the immiscible binary mixture. We performed dielectric relaxation spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, polarized optical microscopy, and grazing incident x-ray diffraction, and noise measurements for the device elements. It was found that spatio-temporal fluctuations of complex dielectric constant and current density were varied depending on isothermal crystallization temperature, cooling rate after the crystallization, and fraction rate. Furthermore we designed thin films that contain poly(L-lactic acid)[PLLA]/4-Cyano-4'-pentylbiphenyl [5CB]. It is assumed that 5CB has larger fluctuation than PCL by applied voltage. We observed morphology of PLLA/5CB thin film using polarized optical microscopy toward design and fabrication of more spatio-temporal fluctuated SDDE.

Stochastic delay-derivative device elements using polymeric binary mixtures: Toward fabrication of bio-inspired signal processing devices with hierarchical instabilities

254th National Meeting (2017)

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