Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) play an important role in our daily life with a variety of applicants. To this day, significant resources have been dedicated to the development of high-performance LIBs, particularly the research necessary to identify the optimum electrolyte materials to solve the safety issue. Up to this point polymer electrolytes are widely investigated for their potential to improve batteries’ safety. Given the relative high ionic conductivity, λ, around 10-3 S/cm, poly-ethylene oxide (PEO) is frequently utilized as the polymer matrix in this scenario. But compared to the commercial liquid electrolyte, the ionic conductivity of polymer electrolyte needs to be improved for at least ten times. It is widely acknowledged that the transportation of Li+ is directly related to the segmental and backbone motions of the polymer indicating to improve the ionic conductivity by structure optimization of polymer. Instead of using the traditional trial and error method, modern innovative studies intend to develop a microscopic picture of the Li–ion transportation process to instruct the polymer optimization but it is difficult with in-house laboratory methods. This project aims at designing a polymer with high ionic conductivity. To achieve this goal, the microscopic view of Li+ transportation in polymer will be elucidated through molecular dynamics (MD) simulation and the polymer dynamics will be clarified with MD simulation and Quasi-elastic Neutron Scattering (QENS).

NanoBiosens seeks to expand the potential of Solid-State Nanochannels (SSNs) in the field of electrochemical sensing and the study of phenomena at nanoscale. SSNs have garnered significant attention among researchers due to their promising applications. Inspired by the sophisticated transport mechanisms found in biological channels in nature, SSNs offer precise control over ion transport. Ion transport across SSNs is controlled by the geometry and physicochemical properties of the surface. Thus, highly selective and sensitive transport relies on controlling the internal chemistry and architecture of the channel. SSNs offer, in addition, new avenues to diverse device with nanofluidic and sensing applications. In this project, we endeavor the creation of SSN-based devices for biosensing while simultaneously delving into fundamental studies of building block behavior in nanoconfinement. To achieve these objectives, I will develop and test a novel dual-signal setup that combines electrochemical and iontronic measurements in SSNs. While pure electrochemical sensing faces challenges related to sensitivity, cost efficiency, and complexity, iontronic sensing enables the adjustment of ion transport properties in SSNs enhancing the performance of the sensor. Leveraging SSNs' exceptional sensitivity, we will pioneer highly sensitive enzyme-based biosensors. The innovative dual-signal sensing mechanism will harvest both the information of EC sensing and the high sensitivity of iontronic sensing. It will offer fundamental studies on building block performance within nanoscale confinement, providing invaluable insights into their behavior. Such studies are crucial for refining the precision and effectiveness of nanoscale architectures and their applications. Thus, NanoBiosens extends beyond immediate impact, seeking to push the boundaries of SSN, exploring novel methods and mechanisms for future advancements and applications.

Touch sensation is built upon the ability of sensory neurons to detect and transduce nanometer scale mechanical displacements. The underlying process has been termed mechanotransduction: the high sensitivity and speed of which is enabled by direct gating (opening) of ion channels by mechanical force. Force detection is functionally compartmentalized and only takes place at the peripheral endings of sensory neurons in vivo. Two molecules are known to be genetically necessary for touch in many sensory neurons, the force gated ion channel PIEZO2 and its modulator STOML3. However, mechanotransduction complexes in all touch receptors absolutely require tethering to the extracellular matrix for function. Tethering is dependent on large extracellular proteins that are sensitive to site-specific proteases. Here we will not only identify the nature of these tethers, but will develop technology to acutely and reversibly abolish tethers and other mechanotransducer components. We will use genome engineering to tag tether and mechanotranduction components in order to visualize and manipulate these proteins at their in vivo sites of action. By engineering de novo cleavage sites for site-specific proteases we will render tethers and ion channels newly sensitive to normally ineffective proteases in the skin. We will engineer mutations into candidate ion channels that dramatically alter biophysical properties to physiologcally “mark” function in vivo. Finally we will develop new behavioural paradigms in mice that allow us to measure touch perception from the forepaw. Psychometric curves for different vibrotactile tasks can then be precisely compared between humans and mice. Furthermore, the impact of acute and reversible manipulation of mechanotransduction on touch perception can be measured. Understanding how molecules assemble to function in a mechanotransduction complex in the skin will open up avenues to develop therapeutic strategies to modulate touch.