Emulating Nociceptive Receptor and LIF Neuron Behavior via ZrOx‐based Threshold Switching Memristor

• Published in: Advanced electronic materials Vol. 9; no. 3
• Main Authors: Yang, Jia‐He, Mao, Shi‐Cheng, Chen, Kuan‐Ting, Chen, Jen‐Sue
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Seoul John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.03.2023; Wiley-VCH
• Subjects: Artificial intelligence; Artificial neural networks; Brain; CMOS; Energy consumption; Humanoid; leaky integrate‐and‐fire neurons; Memristors; Metal oxides; Nervous system; Neural networks; nociceptors; Scale (corrosion); Spectrum analysis; Switching; Task complexity; threshold switching memristors; Transmission electron microscopy; volatile; Working conditions; Zirconium
• ISSN: 2199-160X; 2199-160X
• DOI: 10.1002/aelm.202201006

For the progress of artificial neural networks, the imitation of multiple biological functions is indispensable for processing more tasks in a complex working environment. Memristors, which possess these advantages such as uniformity, high switching speed, and smaller device scale, are the better candidates compared to conventional complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) technology in artificial neural networks. In this work, an Ag/ZrOx/Pt threshold switching memristor (TSM) is designed to overcome the drawback of the large variation in the non‐volatile filament type memristor. The cycle‐to‐cycle and device‐to‐device variations are 5.6% and 4.9%. This device has mimicked the “nociceptive threshold,” “relaxation,” “no adaptation,” and “sensitization” features for the nociceptor which can prevent the artificial intelligence system from dangers in the external environment. Additionally, with the change in the strength of the external stimulus, the artificial neuron is also built by emulating “all‐or‐nothing,” “threshold‐driven‐spiking,” and “strength‐modulated” characteristics. The proposed threshold‐switching memristor allows the simultaneous emulation of the biological nociceptor and leaky integrate‐and‐fire neuron for the first time, which represents an advance in the bioinspired technology adopted in future artificial neural networks and humanoid robots. This work first imitated the biological function of the leaky integrate‐and‐fire neuron and nociceptor simultaneously. The ability to sense shorter stimuli allows the artificial nociceptor to have the advantage. The progress also prompts the fully memristive nervous system to be possible for the applications of humanoid robots and prostheses in the near future.