Stochastic switching and analog-state programmable memristor and its utilization for homomorphic encryption hardware

Homomorphic encryption performs computations on encrypted data without decrypting, thereby eliminating security issues during the data communication between clouds and edges. As a result, there is a growing need for homomorphic encryption hardware (HE-HW) for the edges, where low power consumption and a compact form factor are desired. Here, a Pt/Ta₂O₅/Mo metallic cluster-type memristors (Mo-MCM) characterized by the Mo as a mobile species, and its utilization for the HE-HW via a 1-trasistor-1-memristor (1T1M) array as a prototype HE-HW is proposed. The Mo-MCM exhibits inherent stochastic set-switching behavior, which can be utilized for generating the random numbers required for encryption key generation. Furthermore, the device can accurately store analog conductance states after set-switching, which can be used as an analog non-volatile memristor. By simultaneously leveraging these two characteristics, encryption key generation, data encryption, and decryption are possible within a single device through an in-memory computing manner.