Diffusion Based Molecular Communication: Principle, Key Technologies, and Challenges

TL;DR

This paper provides a comprehensive survey of diffusion-based molecular communication, covering principles, key technologies, system performance, and future challenges in nano-network applications.

Contribution

It offers a detailed overview of the state-of-the-art in diffusion-based molecular communication, highlighting recent achievements and identifying open research issues.

Findings

Analysis of system models and performance factors

Review of information coding and modulation techniques

Discussion of multi-hop nano-network architectures

Abstract

Molecular communication (MC) is a kind of communication technology based on biochemical molecules for internet of bio-nano things, in which the biochemical molecule is used as the information carrier for the interconnection of nano-devices. In this paper, the basic principle of diffusion based MC and the corresponding key technologies are comprehensively surveyed. In particular, the state-of-the-art achievements relative to the diffusion based MC are discussed and compared, including the system model, the system performance analysis with key influencing factors, the information coding and modulation techniques. Meanwhile, the multi-hop nano-network based on the diffusion MC is presented as well. Additionally, given the extensiveness of the research area, open issues and challenges are presented to spur future investigations, in which the involvement of channel model, information theory, self-organizing nano-network, and biochemical applications are put forward.