Single‐Transistor Optoelectronic Spiking Neuron with Optogenetics‐Inspired Spatiotemporal Dynamics

Abstract

The visual system is crucial for human perception and learning, and the retina is responsible for pre‐processing visual information. Mimicking the neurobiological functions of the retina provides the basis for neuromorphic vision hardware. Here, an optogenetics‐inspired prototype capable of modifying neuron‐spiking behavior in a retina‐like manner is demonstrated. In addition to basic information processing, neuronal signal transmission in the retina is bio‐faithfully emulated using optical modulation, that is, neuronal firing is inhibited in the dark and activated upon illumination. The proposed single threshold‐switch field‐effect transistor optoelectronic neuron features an ultra‐compact design by integrating a gate‐modulated 2D MoS2 channel with a volatile threshold switch, and optoelectronic performance is achieved through a multi‐physics resistance‐matching mechanism. This study provides a promising pathway toward highly scalable and hierarchically designed spiking electronics, expanding the spectrum of neuromorphic hardware applications in the emerging field of biomimetic vision.