Artificial
synapses/neurons based on electronic/ionic hybrid devices
have attracted wide attention for brain-inspired neuromorphic systems
since it is possible to overcome the von Neumann bottleneck of the
neuromorphic computing paradigm. Here, we report a novel photoneuromorphic
device based on printed photogating single-walled carbon nanotube
(SWCNT) thin film transistors (TFTs) using lightly n-doped Si as the
gate electrode. The drain currents of the printed SWCNT TFTs can gradually
increase to over 3000 times of their starting value after being pulsed
with light stimulation, and the electrical signals can maintain for
over 10 min. These characteristics are similar to the learning and
memory functions of brain-inspired neuromorphic systems. The working
mechanism of the light-stimulated neuromorphic devices is investigated
and described here in detail. Important synaptic characteristics,
such as low-pass filtering characteristics and nonvolatile memory
ability, are successfully emulated in the printed light-stimulated
artificial synapses. It demonstrates that the printed SWCNT TFT photoneuromorphic
devices can act as the nonvolatile memory units and perform photoneuromorphic
computing, which exhibits potential for future neuromorphic system
applications.
Neuromorphic hardware based on artificial synaptic devices has great potential to break the bottleneck of von Neumann architecture, which makes it possible to emulate the working mode of the human brain with low power consumption and high operation efficiency. However, current synaptic devices can barely detect photons and are bio‐incompatible for future all‐in‐one visual perception technology. Here, synaptic photoconductors based on an organic–inorganic hybrid structure, and composed of photosensitive bacteriorhodopsin protein layer and zinc oxide film are reported. The synaptic photoconductors demonstrate tunable synaptic plasticity with the modulation of the light illumination time and power intensity. The working mechanism of the photogating effect induced by the proton pump process of bR protein molecules is further investigated in detail. Assisting with these properties, the imaging memorization and preprocessing function are successfully emulated by the synaptic photoconductors. The prototype photosynaptic devices provide a unique opportunity to realize artificial synapses, enabling neuromorphic hardware.
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