Memristive Artificial Synapses for Neuromorphic Computing

• Published in: Nano-micro letters 2021-03, Vol.13 (1), p.85-28, Article 85
• Main Authors: Huang, Wen, Xia, Xuwen, Zhu, Chen, Steichen, Parker, Quan, Weidong, Mao, Weiwei, Yang, Jianping, Chu, Liang, Li, Xing’ao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Artificial Synapses Devices; Brain; Cognition & reasoning; Communications networks; Computation; Data processing; Electrical pulses; Engineering; Gene expression; Laboratories; Materials science; Memory; Nanoscale Science and Technology; Nanotechnology; Nanotechnology and Microengineering; Neural networks; Neuromorphic computing; Optical communication; Optical pulses; Photoelectric synergetic effects; Photoelectricity; Review; Stimulation; Synapses; Synaptic devices
• ISSN: 2311-6706; 2150-5551; 2150-5551
• DOI: 10.1007/s40820-021-00618-2

Highlights Synaptic devices that mimic synaptic functions are discussed by categorizing them into electrically stimulated, optically stimulated, and photoelectric synergetic synaptic devices based on stimulation of electrical and optical signals. The working mechanisms, progress, and application scenarios of synaptic devices based on electrical and optical signals are compared and analyzed. The performances and future development of various synaptic devices that could be significant for building efficient neuromorphic systems are prospected. Neuromorphic computing simulates the operation of biological brain function for information processing and can potentially solve the bottleneck of the von Neumann architecture. This computing is realized based on memristive hardware neural networks in which synaptic devices that mimic biological synapses of the brain are the primary units. Mimicking synaptic functions with these devices is critical in neuromorphic systems. In the last decade, electrical and optical signals have been incorporated into the synaptic devices and promoted the simulation of various synaptic functions. In this review, these devices are discussed by categorizing them into electrically stimulated, optically stimulated, and photoelectric synergetic synaptic devices based on stimulation of electrical and optical signals. The working mechanisms of the devices are analyzed in detail. This is followed by a discussion of the progress in mimicking synaptic functions. In addition, existing application scenarios of various synaptic devices are outlined. Furthermore, the performances and future development of the synaptic devices that could be significant for building efficient neuromorphic systems are prospected.