Abstract
In this talk, I will share recent progress from my research group, the Laboratory of Organic Materials for Smart Electronics (OMSE Lab), on designing polymer-based electronic components for bioelectronic devices. These devices are central to the next generation of "smart" electronics for healthcare and consumer applications. Our research focuses on addressing the unique demands of such systems, which require a combination of mechanical flexibility, environmental stability, reliable signal processing, and functional adaptability. In particular, I will highlight our recent efforts to engineer mechanically deformable electrodes through an exponential stacking strategy. This method overcomes a major limitation of traditional stretchable electronics, which often require a tradeoff between mechanical compliance and electronic performance. With exponential stacking, increasing the number of layers simultaneously enhances both electrical conductivity and strain tolerance without compromising device functionality. This scalable approach has enabled the development of soft electronics capable of recording electrophysiological signals in vivo from the small intestines—a first for this application. Additionally, these materials support electrical stimulation, making them suitable for both biosensing and neuromodulation. Notably, this method is compatible with a wide variety of metals, including highly reactive ones like, which are typically not stretchable when deposited on elastomeric substrates. As a result, we are developing a versatile platform for bioelectronics with the potential to address key challenges in biosensing and biomedical device engineering. I will also share our work on using polymer composites in synaptic transistors. These composites enable a balance between ionic permeability and efficient electronic charge transport, which is essential for creating high-performance materials needed in stimulus-responsive and adaptive electronics, particularly for bioelectronic applications.
Biography
Professor Gumyusenge received a BS in chemistry from Wofford College and a PhD in chemistry from Purdue University. Before joining DMSE, he was a postdoctoral fellow of the Geballe Lab for Advanced Materials at Stanford University. Professor Gumyusenge’s research background and interests are in semiconducting polymers, their processing and characterization, and their role in the future of electronics. At MIT, Professor Gumyusenge’s research group, OMSE Lab, focuses on developing novel organic semiconducting materials and using them to build organic electronic devices and body-machine interfaces. He is interested in relating molecular design to device performance, especially transistor devices that can mimic and interface with biological systems.