IONBIKE developed an intensive research and networking program between European and non-European institutions in the area of new materials for bioelectronics. The scientific project tried to combine in a synergetic manner the unique technical expertises of the different nodes. World pioneers in the areas of ionic liquids, iongels, (semi)conducting polymers, advanced materials characterization and (bio)electronic devices will work together towards a common goal. In the first period of the project most of the efforts were devoted to the development of new materials and their characterizations, while the second was more focused on their application in bioelectronic devices.
The results obtained are summarized in the next bullet points:
• Synthesis and selection of components for innovative iongels such as bio-ionic liquids, deep-eutectic solvents, poly(ionic liquid)s, biodegradable polymers, functional biopolymers, semi-conjugated polymers and PEDOTs.
• Synthesis and characterization of biodegradable and/or biocompatible iongels.
• Synthesis of iongels endowed with mixed ionic-electronic conductivity by combining into a gel (semi)conjugated conducting polymers and ionic liquids.
• Structural, thermal, mechanical, morphological and functional (i.e. ionic conductivity, electronic conductivity) characterization of the new iongels.
• Processing of innovative iongels using advanced methods such as large scale printing, 3D printing and coating methods.
• Better understanding of the relationship between molecular composition/macromolecular structure, functionality and biodegradability of iongels.
• Application of iongels in bioelectronic devices for health and fitness, particularly in electrodes for electrophysiological recordings, long-lasting cutaneous electrophysiology, electroencephalography and heart-monitoring and other applications such as batteries, water purification or corrosion protection.
• Investigate the use of biodegradable iongels in bioelectronics devices such as organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs).
The IONBIKE consortium carried out more than 80% of the planned secondments, organised several training courses, conferences and the proposed networking events (e.g. BioEl2019 in UK, Asilomar Bioelectronics Symposium 2020 in USA, SLAP Latinamerican Symposium of Polymers 2022 in Spain, the Workshop on Organic semiconductors and flexible electronics 2022 in KAUST and BPC2022 Bordeaux Polymer Conference in France. Consortium partners have actively participated to several scientific community and public outreach dissemination activities. The originality of the new materials have made the dissemination activities (number and quality of scientific articles, presentations in conferences) to be high.
Project activities were widely communicated through the webpage and social networks of the project.
