Transparent and Flexible Inorganic Perovskite Photonic Artificial Synapses with Dual‐Mode Operation

• Published in: Advanced functional materials Vol. 31; no. 6
• Main Authors: Yang, Lin, Singh, Mriganka, Shen, Shin‐Wei, Chih, Ke‐Yun, Liu, Shun‐Wei, Wu, Chih‐I, Chu, Chih‐Wei, Lin, Hao‐Wu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.02.2021
• Subjects: Artificial intelligence; artificial synapses; Computation; Crosstalk; dual‐mode operation; inorganic perovskites; Materials science; Memristors; Multiplexing; Nanoparticles; Optical memory (data storage); Perovskites; photonic memristors; Photonics; Selectivity; Synapses; Tin dioxide; transparent devices; Ultraviolet radiation
• ISSN: 1616-301X; 1616-3028
• DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202008259

With the rapid development of artificial intelligence, the simulation of the human brain for neuromorphic computing has demonstrated unprecedented progress. Photonic artificial synapses are strongly desirable owing to their higher neuron selectivity, lower crosstalk, wavelength multiplexing capabilities, and low operating power compared to their electric counterparts. This study demonstrates a highly transparent and flexible artificial synapse with a two‐terminal architecture that emulates photonic synaptic functionalities. This optically triggered artificial synapse exhibits clear synaptic characteristics such as paired‐pulse facilitation, short/long‐term memory, and synaptic behavior analogous to that of the iris in the human eye. Ultraviolet light illumination‐induced neuromorphic characteristics exhibited by the synapse are attributed to carrier trapping and detrapping in the SnO2 nanoparticles and CsPbCl3 perovskite interface. Moreover, the ability to detect deep red light without changes in synaptic behavior indicates the potential for dual‐mode operation. This study establishes a novel two‐terminal architecture for highly transparent and flexible photonic artificial synapse that can help facilitate higher integration density of transparent 3D stacking memristors, and make it possible to approach optical learning, memory, computing, and visual recognition. An inorganic CsPbCl3 perovskite artificial photonic synapse is demonstrated for the first time. This work shows the promising potential of multilevel storage capacity devices that can emulate synaptic functionalities via tuning of light intensity and frequency. The two‐terminal architecture synapse device exhibits the potential of dual‐mode operation, high transparency, and flexibility, which enable optical learning, memory, computing, and visual recognition.