Optical Synaptic Devices with Multiple Encryption Features Based on SERS‐Revealed Charge‐Transfer Mechanism

• Published in: Advanced materials (Weinheim) Vol. 37; no. 24; pp. e2503146 - n/a
• Main Authors: Zhao, Shaoguang, Hou, Xiangyu, Cheng, Yue, Zhang, Qiman, Zhao, Jingwen, Tao, Li
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.06.2025
• Subjects: Artificial neural networks; Biological activity; charge transfer; Counterfeiting; Devices; Electromagnetic absorption; Encryption; Hybrid structures; indium selenide; Neural networks; Nondestructive testing; optical synapse; Raman spectroscopy; Rhodamine 6G; self‐limited oxide layer; Surface treatment; surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy; Synapses; Thickness; optical synapse; surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy; charge transfer; self‐limited oxide layer; indium selenide
• ISSN: 0935-9648; 1521-4095; 1521-4095
• DOI: 10.1002/adma.202503146

2D optical synaptic devices with atomic‐scale thickness show potential for building highly integrated tunable artificial visual neural networks. However, their atomic‐scale thickness also leads to weak light absorption, limiting device photoresponse. Here, a high‐performance optical synaptic device based on a Rhodamine 6G (R6G)/InSe hybrid structure is proposed, achieving a remarkable 328.9% enhancement in photoresponse compared to InSe devices. Using surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) as a nondestructive probing technique, it is demonstrated that light‐induced charge transfer between R6G and InSe is the key mechanism enabling the device's high performance. Furthermore, introducing a self‐limited oxide layer on the InSe surface provides additional evidence for the charge transfer process. This charge‐transfer‐based device effectively mimics the neurotransmitter transmission process in biological synapses, showing unique potential in applications such as image preprocessing and decoding within artificial neural networks. In addition, through surface treatment techniques, precise control over the charge transfer process is achieved, enabling the design of a multiple encryption‐based anti‐counterfeiting array and highlighting their value in on‐chip anti‐counterfeiting. By employing a spectrally noninvasive method to probe charge transfer, this study elucidates the critical role of charge transfer in optical synaptic devices and opens novel application pathways. A hybrid R6G/InSe structure is designed, and the charge transfer mechanism within this structure is validated using SERS. This structure effectively emulates biological synapses, comprising a presynaptic membrane (R6G photosensitive layer), synaptic cleft (R6G/InSe interface), and postsynaptic membrane (InSe sensing layer). The charge transfer process in this structure closely mirrors the neurotransmitter transfer across the synaptic cleft. Surface treatment techniques are employed to regulate the charge transfer process, enabling multiple on‐chip encryption anti‐counterfeiting applications to be developed.