Mimicking Neurotransmitter Activity and Realizing Algebraic Arithmetic on Flexible Protein-Gated Oxide Neuromorphic Transistors

Abstract

Recently, flexible neuromorphic devices have attracted extensive attention for the construction of perception cognitive systems with the ultimate objective to achieve robust computation, efficient learning, and adaptability to evolutionary changes. In particular, the design of flexible neuromorphic devices with data processing and arithmetic capabilities is highly desirable for wearable cognitive platforms. Here, an albumen-based protein-gated flexible indium tin oxide (ITO) ionotronic neuromorphic transistor was proposed. First, the transistor demonstrates excellent mechanical robustness against bending stress. Moreover, spike-duration-dependent synaptic plasticity and spike-amplitude-dependent synaptic plasticity behaviors are not affected by bending stress. With the unique protonic gating behaviors, neurotransmission processes in biological synapses are emulated, exhibiting three characteristics in neurotransmitter release, including quantal release, stochastic release, and excitatory or inhibitory release. In addition, three types of spike-timing-dependent plasticity learning rules are mimicked on the ITO ionotronic neuromorphic transistor. Most interestingly, algebraic arithmetic operations, including addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, are implemented on the protein gated neuromorphic transistor for the first time. The present work would open a promising biorealistic avenue to the scientific community to control and design wearable “green” cognitive platforms, with potential applications including but not limited to intelligent humanoid robots and replacement neuroprosthetics.

Recent advances in neuromorphic transistors for artificial perception applications

“…So far, various materials have been adopted to fabricate optoelectronic synaptic transistors [ 96 , 101–104 ], including oxide semiconductor, 2D-layered semiconductor, organic semiconductor, environmentally friendly biomaterials, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), quantum dots (QDs) and ionic gel electrolytes. In addition, various novel structures have also been developed to fabricate optoelectronic devices.…”

Proton gated oxide neuromorphic transistors with bionic vision enhancement and information decoding

“…Thus, it is of great significance to realize information decoding and processing on neuromorphic devices, which can expand their application in artificial neural networks, natural language processing, human-computer interface, etc. Previously, we have demonstrated algebraic arithmetic 12 and binary code compilation under the ASCII code 56 on oxide neuromorphic transistors. Here, we conceptually demonstrate information decoding on the proposed ITO photoelectric neuromorphic transistor, as schematically shown in Fig.…”

“…To date, several kinds of neuromorphic devices have been proposed, including two-terminal memristors [5][6][7] and three-terminal transistors. [8][9][10][11][12][13][14] Additionally, multi-terminal memristors and memtransistors have also been proposed, resulting in the emulation of advanced synaptic functions, including synaptic competition and synaptic cooperation, heterosynaptic plasticity, etc. [15][16][17] Moreover, advanced neural functions have also been mimicked, including image memory, 11,18 pattern recognition, 19 reservoir computation, 20 classical conditioned reflex, 21,22 etc.…”

Sustainable Macromolecular Materials in Flexible Electronics

“…[ 257 ] In a recent study, in which a learning mechanism was created as a synaptic device, albumen (the part of the egg that contains albumin) was turned into an electrolyte, and proton conductivity was increased so that it could be used in artificial nerve applications. [ 258 ] It was reported that the rate of switching on and off currents was relatively high in transistors containing albumin protein (>10 7 ). A table of performances of flexible transistors is given in Table 4 .…”