Enhanced 2D MoTe<sub>2</sub> Analogue Switching through Laser Processing and ALD-Passivation for Dual-Function Neuromorphic Devices.

Radwan, Mohamed; Hosseini-Shokouh, Seyed Hossein; Shafi, Abde Mayeen; Dias, Catarina; Khalid, Fooqia; Rajeevan, Shreya; Hyttinen, Henri; Ali, Fida et al. · Nano Lett · 2025

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Neuro-based computing, enabled by memristors and memtransistors, has drawn significant attention, with two-dimensional (2D) molybdenum ditelluride (MoTe<sub>2</sub>) emerging as a promising candidate for its low phase-change energy barrier and tunable electrical behavior. However, realizing the full potential of MoTe<sub>2</sub> for neuromorphic applications has been hindered by the lack of a sufficiently large memory window in pristine devices. In this work, we present an effective method to significantly enhance the analogue switching of lateral MoTe<sub>2</sub> devices. This method involves two sequential processes: laser treatment followed by the atomic layer deposition of Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>. The synergistic effects of both processes yielded significant performance improvements, with a 70-fold improvement in dynamic range when operating as a memristor and a 20-fold enhancement when functioning as a memtransistor. Consequently, artificial neural network simulations demonstrated a 10-fold enhancement in pattern recognition accuracy, while the dual memristor/memtransistor capability enabled the emulation of both homosynaptic and heterosynaptic plasticity.