A Diffusive Artificial Synapse Based on Charged Metal Nanoparticles.

Guo, Jiahui; Liu, Lin; Wang, Jingyu; Zhao, Xing; Zhang, Yuchun; Yan, Yong · Nano Lett · 2024

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

We show that a diffusive memristor with analogue switching characteristics can be achieved in a layer of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) functionalized with charged self-assembled monolayers (deprotonated 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid). The nanoparticle core and the anchored stationary charges are jammed within the layer while the mobile counterions [N(CH<sub>3</sub>)<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>] can respond to the electric field and spontaneously diffuse back to the initial positions upon removal of the field. This metal nanoparticle device is set-step free, energy consumption efficient, mechanically flexible, and analogous to bio-Ca<sup>2+</sup> dynamics and has tunable conductance modulation capabilities at the counterion concentrations. The gradual resistive switching behavior enables us to implement several important synaptic functions such as potentiation/depression, spike voltage-dependent plasticity, spike duration-dependent plasticity, spike frequency-dependent plasticity, and paired-pulse facilitation. Finally, on the basis of the paired-pulse facilitation characteristics, the metal nanoparticle diffusive artificial synapse is used for edge extraction with exhibits excellent performance.