Issue 10, 2021

Bi-mode electrolyte-gated synaptic transistor via additional ion doping and its application to artificial nociceptors

Abstract

Multiple types of synaptic transistors that are capable of processing electrical signals similar to the biological neural system hold enormous potential for application in parallel computing, logic circuits and peripheral detection. However, most of these presented synaptic transistors are confined to a single mode of synaptic plasticity under an electrical stimulus, which tremendously limits efficient memory formation and the multifunctional integration of synaptic transistors. Here, we proposed a bi-mode electrolyte-gated synaptic transistor (BEST) with two dynamic processes, the formation of an electrical double layer (EDL) and electrochemical doping (ECD) by tuning the applied voltages, thereby allowing volatile and non-volatile behavior, which is associated with additional ion doping and nanoscale ionic transport. Benefiting from two controllable dynamic processes, we surprisingly found a third state in the transfer curves besides the “off” and “on” states. Moreover, utilizing this unique property, an artificial nociceptor with multilevel modulation of sensitivity was realized based on our bi-mode device. Finally, a haptic sensory system was constructed to exhibit robotic motion that revealed a unique threshold switching behavior, indicating the applicability to peripheral sensing circuits. Hence, the presented bi-mode synaptic transistor provides promising prospects in achieving multiple-mode integrated devices and simplifying neural circuits, which shows great potential in the development of artificial intelligence.

Graphical abstract: Bi-mode electrolyte-gated synaptic transistor via additional ion doping and its application to artificial nociceptors

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
06 Jul 2021
Accepted
10 Aug 2021
First published
11 Aug 2021

Mater. Horiz., 2021,8, 2797-2807

Bi-mode electrolyte-gated synaptic transistor via additional ion doping and its application to artificial nociceptors

R. Yu, Y. Yan, E. Li, X. Wu, X. Zhang, J. Chen, Y. Hu, H. Chen and T. Guo, Mater. Horiz., 2021, 8, 2797 DOI: 10.1039/D1MH01061A

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