Recent progress in three-terminal artificial synapses based on 2D materials: from mechanisms to applications

• Published in: Microsystems & nanoengineering Vol. 9; no. 1; p. 16
• Main Authors: Zhang, Fanqing, Li, Chunyang, Li, Zhongyi, Dong, Lixin, Zhao, Jing
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 17.02.2023; Springer Nature B.V; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 639/301/357/995; 639/925/927/1007; Artificial intelligence; Associative learning; Bionics; Electronic devices; Electronic equipment; Energy consumption; Engineering; Graphene; Mechanical stimuli; Neural networks; Neural plasticity; Object recognition; Pattern recognition; Power consumption; Review; Review Article; Sensory integration; Sensory systems; Synapses; Synaptic plasticity; Synaptic strength; Synaptic transmission; Transistors; Two dimensional materials; Electronic properties and materials; Electronic devices
• ISSN: 2055-7434; 2096-1030; 2055-7434
• DOI: 10.1038/s41378-023-00487-2

Synapses are essential for the transmission of neural signals. Synaptic plasticity allows for changes in synaptic strength, enabling the brain to learn from experience. With the rapid development of neuromorphic electronics, tremendous efforts have been devoted to designing and fabricating electronic devices that can mimic synapse operating modes. This growing interest in the field will provide unprecedented opportunities for new hardware architectures for artificial intelligence. In this review, we focus on research of three-terminal artificial synapses based on two-dimensional (2D) materials regulated by electrical, optical and mechanical stimulation. In addition, we systematically summarize artificial synapse applications in various sensory systems, including bioplastic bionics, logical transformation, associative learning, image recognition, and multimodal pattern recognition. Finally, the current challenges and future perspectives involving integration, power consumption and functionality are outlined.