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A Ferroelectric/Electrochemical Modulated Organic Synapse for Ultraflexible, Artificial Visual-Perception System
Hanlin Wang1,2, Qiang Zhao1,2, Zhenjie Ni1
1Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Organic Solids, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, P. R. China.
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|September 26, 2018
Summary
This study introduces a novel ferroelectric/electrochemical organic synapse for artificial vision. The device achieves long-lasting plasticity, enabling efficient sensory-memory systems and light-triggered neuromorphic devices.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience and Materials Science
- Organic electronics
- Neuromorphic engineering
Background:
- Human visual perception relies on light transduction into neural signals by rods and cones.
- Artificial retinal systems need neuromorphic devices to mimic synaptic functions like short-term plasticity (STP) and long-term potentiation (LTP).
- Existing electrochemical transistors for STP-LTP have limited non-volatile memory timescales, hindering advanced sensory-memory applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an organic synapse with multiple, tunable plasticity timescales for enhanced artificial visual perception.
- To overcome the limitations of current electrochemical transistors in achieving persistent non-volatile memory.
- To demonstrate a proof-of-concept for a light-triggered organic neuromorphic device (LOND) with integrated sensory and memory functions.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a ferroelectric/electrochemical modulated organic synapse.
- Utilizing electrochemical doping/de-doping for STP/LTP and ferroelectric dipole switching for persistent LTP.
- Construction of an ultraflexible, light-triggered organic neuromorphic device (LOND) using the developed synapse.
Main Results:
- The proposed organic synapse exhibits three plasticity prototypes: electrochemical STP/LTP and ferroelectric-LTP.
- Achieved 10000-second-persistent non-volatile plasticity, significantly exceeding conventional devices.
- Demonstrated unique threshold switching properties and successful transduction of light signals (frequency, intensity, wavelength) into volatile and non-volatile synaptic signals by the LOND.
Conclusions:
- The ferroelectric/electrochemical organic synapse offers a promising platform for advanced neuromorphic applications requiring multi-timescale plasticity.
- The developed LOND showcases the potential for efficient, integrated artificial visual perception and sensory-memory systems.
- This work advances the development of flexible, light-responsive neuromorphic devices for future artificial intelligence and sensory prosthetics.
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