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Title: A non-volatile organic electrochemical device as a low-voltage artificial synapse for neuromorphic computing

Journal Article · · Nature Materials
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nmat4856 · OSTI ID:1365809
ORCiD logo [1];  [2];  [3];  [1];  [4];  [3];  [5];  [3];  [1]
  1. Stanford Univ., CA (United States)
  2. Stanford Univ., CA (United States); Univ. of Groningen (Netherlands)
  3. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-CA), Livermore, CA (United States)
  4. Stanford Univ., CA (United States); Univ. of Sao Paulo (Brazil)
  5. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

The brain is capable of massively parallel information processing while consuming only ~1- 100 fJ per synaptic event. Inspired by the efficiency of the brain, CMOS-based neural architectures and memristors are being developed for pattern recognition and machine learning. However, the volatility, design complexity and high supply voltages for CMOS architectures, and the stochastic and energy-costly switching of memristors complicate the path to achieve the interconnectivity, information density, and energy efficiency of the brain using either approach. Here we describe an electrochemical neuromorphic organic device (ENODe) operating with a fundamentally different mechanism from existing memristors. ENODe switches at low energy (<10 pJ for 103 μm2 devices) and voltage, displays >500 distinct, non-volatile conductance states within a ~1 V range, and achieves high classification accuracy when implemented in neural network simulations. Plastic ENODEs are also fabricated on flexible substrates enabling the integration of neuromorphic functionality in stretchable electronic systems. Mechanical flexibility makes ENODes compatible with 3D architectures, opening a path towards extreme interconnectivity comparable to the human brain.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES) (SC-22)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC04-94AL85000
OSTI ID:
1365809
Report Number(s):
SAND--2017-1662J; nmat4856
Journal Information:
Nature Materials, Journal Name: Nature Materials Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 16; ISSN 1476-1122
Publisher:
Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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