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Controlling the Synaptic Plasticity of a Cu 2 S Gap‐Type Atomic Switch
Author(s) -
Nayak Alpana,
Ohno Takeo,
Tsuruoka Tohru,
Terabe Kazuya,
Hasegawa Tsuyoshi,
Gimzewski James K.,
Aono Masakazu
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.201200640
Subject(s) - synapse , plasticity , materials science , synaptic plasticity , conductance , long term potentiation , neuroscience , biology , physics , composite material , biochemistry , receptor , condensed matter physics
It is demonstrated that a Cu 2 S gap‐type atomic switch, referred to as a Cu 2 S inorganic synapse, emulates the synaptic plasticity underlying the sensory, short‐term, and long‐term memory formations in the human brain. The change in conductance of the Cu 2 S inorganic synapse is considered analogous to the change in strength of a biological synaptic connection known as the synaptic plasticity. The plasticity of the Cu 2 S inorganic synapse is controlled depending on the interval, amplitude, and width of an input voltage pulse stimulation. Interestingly, the plasticity is influenced by the presence of air or moisture. Time‐dependent scanning tunneling microscopy images of the Cu‐protrusions grown in air and in vacuum provide clear evidence of the influence of air on their stability. Furthermore, the plasticity depends on temperature, such that a long‐term memory is achieved much faster at elevated temperatures with shorter or fewer number of input pulses, indicating a close analogy with a biological synapse where elevated temperature increases the degree of synaptic transmission. The ability to control the plasticity of the Cu 2 S inorganic synapse justifies its potential as an advanced synthetic synapse with air/temperature sensibility for the development of artificial neural networks.