This Telluride Science & Innovation Center workshop will bring together experts in synthetic chemistry, theory and computation, biology, materials science and engineering, and device physics to scout the pathways forward to synthetically regulate the mixed (ionic and electronic) conduction of semiconductors for facile interfacing with electrolytes including the biological media. Conducting both ionic and electronic charge carriers, mixed condition materials are impacting a large variety of biology and energy-related applications. In particular, the device form factors that arise from the inherent mechanical flexibility of so-called "plastic" materials and the ability to readily tune the material's electronic and optical properties, as well as interactions with water-born systems through well-established synthetic chemistry principles, make organic mixed conductors particularly suitable for bioelectronics.

While the development of devices that rely on mixed conduction is rapidly progressing, the evolution of the applications relies heavily on improving the mixed transport properties of semiconducting films. Our current understanding of how thin semiconducting films conduct charge at the electrolyte interface is limited due to the challenges in monitoring the simultaneous conduction of ions and electrons in the film and the gaps in terminology as the study of these materials lies at the intersection of materials science, solid-state physics, and electrochemistry. The ability to tune microstructure by materials chemistry and processing gives a tool to control transport properties, develop the ideal material structure, and optimize device geometry/operation conditions. There is a strong need to develop in situ techniques that monitor dynamic changes in the structure and optical and electrical properties of the film as (aqueous) electrolyte interfaces have constant interactions with film microstructure. Moreover, computational methods are necessary to understand the impact of electrolyte environment and biasing conditions on film properties to develop devices with reversible operation for biosensing or actuation but also those with hysteretic behavior for neuromorphic computing and charge storage.