Piezotronic synapse based on a single gan microwire for artificial sensory systems

Qilin Hua, Xiao Cui, Haitao Liu, Caofeng Pan*, Weiguo Hu, Zhong Lin Wang

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

35 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Tactile information is efficiently captured and processed through a complex sensory system combined with mechanoreceptors, neurons, and synapses in human skin. Synapses are essential for tactile signal transmission between pre/post-neurons. However, developing an electronic device that integrates the functions of tactile information sensation and transmission remains a challenge. Here, we present a piezotronic synapse based on a single GaN microwire that can simultaneously achieve the capabilities of strain sensing and synaptic functions. The piezotronic effect in the wurtzite GaN is introduced to strengthen synaptic weight updates (e.g., 330% enhancement at a compressive stress of -0.36%) with pulse trains. A high gauge factor for strain sensing (ranging from 0 to -0.81%) of about 736 is also obtained. Remarkably, the piezotronic synapse enables the neuromorphic hardware achievement of the perception and processing of tactile information in a single micro/nanowire system, demonstrating an advance in biorealistic artificial intelligence systems.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3761-3768
Number of pages8
JournalNano Letters
Volume20
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 13 May 2020
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • GaN
  • Micro/nanowire
  • Neuromorphic
  • Piezotronic
  • Strain sensing
  • Synapse

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Hua, Q., Cui, X., Liu, H., Pan, C., Hu, W., & Wang, Z. L. (2020). Piezotronic synapse based on a single gan microwire for artificial sensory systems. Nano Letters, 20(5), 3761-3768. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.0c00733