Synaptic transistors // for neuromorphic circuits at room temperature
A synaptic transistor is an electrical device that can learn in ways similar to a neural synapse.[1] It optimizes its own properties for the functions it has carried out in the past. The device mimics the behavior of the property of neurons called spike-timing-dependent plasticity, or STDP. [wikipedia]
Moiré quantum materials host exotic electronic phenomena through enhanced internal Coulomb interactions in twisted two-dimensional heterostructures1,2,3,4. When combined with the exceptionally high electrostatic control in atomically thin materials5,6,7,8, moiré heterostructures have the potential to enable next-generation electronic devices with unprecedented functionality. However, despite extensive exploration, moiré electronic phenomena have thus far been limited to impractically low cryogenic temperatures9,10,11,12,13,14, thus precluding real-world applications of moiré quantum materials. Here we report the experimental realization and room-temperature operation of a low-power (20 pW) moiré synaptic transistor based on an asymmetric bilayer graphene/hexagonal boron nitride moiré heterostructure. The asymmetric moiré potential gives rise to robust electronic ratchet states, which enable hysteretic, non-volatile injection of charge carriers that control the conductance of the device. The asymmetric gating in dual-gated moiré heterostructures realizes diverse biorealistic neuromorphic functionalities, such as reconfigurable synaptic responses, spatiotemporal-based tempotrons and Bienenstock–Cooper–Munro input-specific adaptation. In this manner, the moiré synaptic transistor enables efficient compute-in-memory designs and edge hardware accelerators for artificial intelligence and machine learning.
Researchers have developed a new synaptic transistor capable of higher-level thinking that operates at room temperatures and consumes very little energy. The device is 100 times more power-efficient than conventional transistors and can store up to 100 times more information. It is ideal for real-world applications and could be used in a wide range of industries, such as AI, machine learning, IoT, robotics and wearables.
Summary
Here is a summary of the key points from the article:
- Researchers have developed a new synaptic transistor that can perform higher-level thinking and operate at room temperature while using very little energy.
- The transistor is inspired by the human brain and is capable of processing and storing information simultaneously like the brain. It can perform tasks like categorizing data and associative learning.
- The transistor operates up to 1000 times faster than biological synapses, works at room temperature, consumes very little energy, and retains information when power is removed. This makes it suitable for real-world applications.
- The transistor is 100 times more energy efficient than conventional transistors and can store up to 100 times more information. It is also resistant to magnetic fields and shock.
- The device mimics the brain’s architecture of interwoven processing and memory, unlike digital computers where these are separate. This makes it much more efficient for tasks like image processing.
- Researchers aim to develop brain-like computing devices as advances in AI motivate new ways to process vast amounts of data without consuming more power. The synaptic transistor is a key step toward this goal.
