Artificial jelly channel inspired by the shark for sensing specific ions and environmental perturbation. (December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sun, Peng; Qiu, Meijia; Li, Gang; Zhao, Shifan; Zhao, Jie; Mai, Wenjie; Cui, Guofeng
• Is Part Of: Materials today chemistry. Volume 26(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-12
• Subjects: Ampullae of Lorenzini -- High ion conductivity -- Selective diffusion behaviors -- Monitoring environmental change -- Jelly-like hydrogel; Chemistry -- Periodicals; Materials -- Research -- Periodicals; Materials science -- Periodicals; Chemistry; Materials -- Research; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 660.282
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mtchem.2022.101047
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2468-5194

Abstract

Abstract: The ampullae of Lorenzini (AoL) from sharks is an important tool to ensure their well-known six-sense function. Inspired by the jelly-like substance inside AoL, we design a polymer hydrogel to mimic it and achieve some of the functions of AoL. The polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/polyaniline (PANI) hydrogel with an excellent ion conductivity of 10.8 mS cm −1 presents great selectivity toward Fe and Cu ions and high sensitivity for the environmental variation. By combining electrochemical analysis and molecular dynamics simulations, the inner mechanism for sensing specific ions can be explained by the large difference in ion conductivity between various cations related to the diversity in the diffusion barrier through the fabricated jelly system. The experimental results can further be well interpreted by finite element analysis (FEA) simulation, implying the function of this AoL-inspired jelly is to sense the ion variation and environmental perturbation nearby for collecting helpful information. These results will provide potential applications with similar function as the AoL for multifunctional undersea sensors. Graphical abstract: A jelly-like PVA/PANI hydrogel channel with extremely high ion conductivity and excellent selectivity for specific ions is fabricated to mimic some of the functions of the ampullae of Lorenzini from sharks. These can partly explain why sharks and other undersea creatures posses the mysterious ability of the so-called 'sixth sense'. Image 1 Highlights: The jelly-shape PVA/PANI hydrogel is achieved via a simple mixing and crosslinking method. The jelly channel owns a high ion conductivity of 10.8 mS/cm, much better than the jelly inside ampullae of Lorenzini. The sensing system can selectively detect specific cations and traces environmental perturbation simultaneously.