Covalent organic framework nanofluidic membrane as a platform for highly sensitive bionic thermosensation

Abstract

Thermal sensation, which is the conversion of a temperature stimulus into a biological response, is the basis of the fundamental physiological processes that occur ubiquitously in all organisms from bacteria to mammals. Significant efforts have been devoted to fabricating artificial membranes that can mimic the delicate functions of nature; however, the design of a bionic thermometer remains in its infancy. Herein, we report a nanofluidic membrane based on an ionic covalent organic framework (COF) that is capable of intelligently monitoring temperature variations and expressing it in the form of continuous potential differences. The high density of the charged sites present in the sub-nanochannels renders superior permselectivity to the resulting nanofluidic system, leading to a high thermosensation sensitivity of 1.27 mV K⁻¹, thereby outperforming any known natural system. The potential applicability of the developed system is illustrated by its excellent tolerance toward a broad range of salt concentrations, wide working temperatures, synchronous response to temperature stimulation, and long-term ultrastability. Therefore, our study pioneers a way to explore COFs for mimicking the sophisticated signaling system observed in the nature.

Efforts have been devoted to fabricating artificial membranes that can mimic biological functions but the design of a bionic thermometer remains in its infancy. Herein, the authors report a nanofluidic membrane based on an ionic covalent organic framework capable of monitoring temperature variations and expressing it in the form of continuous potential differences.