Reproducing the ion channel-based neural functions with artificial fluidic systems is a long aspirational goal both for neuromorphic computing and biomedical applications. Herein neuromorphic functions are successfully accomplished with polyelectrolyte-confined fluidic memristors (PFMs), in which confined polyelectrolyte-ion interactions contribute to hysteretic ion transport, resulting in ionic memory effects. Various electric pulse patterns are emulated by PFM with ultralow power consumption. Benefiting from the fluidic-based property of PFMs, mimicking chemical-regulated electric pulse is investigated and accomplished. More importantly, chemical-electric signal transduction is implemented based on the specific recognition of PFM. With structural emulation to ion channels, PFM features versatility and easily interfaces with biological systems, paving a way to building neuromorphic devices with advanced functions by introducing rich chemical designs.

All electrochemical experiments were performed on a Heka EPC-10 amplifier (Heka Inc., Germany). Currents were recorded by 2 Ag/AgCl wires placed inside a micro/nanopippette and the external bath solution respectively. All bias voltage shown herein was V_internal vs V_external. No processes like smooth or filtering were carried out on the data.

FEM was carried out with Comsol 6.0 (Comsol Co.).

The data were shown in Origin documents, and the Simulation data should be read by a Comsol multiphysics software (6.0 or higher version).