Bioinspired gas-receptor synergistic interaction for high-performance two-dimensional neuromorphic devices

Abstract

Two-dimensional (2D) transition-metal dichalcogenide (TMDC)-based artificial synaptic devices are promising for neuromorphic computing. However, 2D TMDCs are difficult to heavily dope reversibly, which limits their resistive switching performances. Inspired by the biological gas-receptor signaling pathway, we report a gas (H₂O)-receptor (defect) synergistic interaction (GRSI) mechanism to greatly enhance the resistive switching capabilities of 2D TMDC-based memristors by over 10,000 times. Employing the GRSI, the synaptic device emulates multiple synaptic plasticities and exhibits outstanding long-term potentiation and depression with a large dynamic range (>200), multiple resistance states (2⁸ levels), and ultralow programming/reading powers (P_prog < 100 pW, P_read < 1 pW). As an artificial nociceptor, the device precisely simulates characteristic behaviors of biological nociceptors. More importantly, the GRSI is universally applicable to various 2D TMDCs including MoS₂, WS₂, SnS₂, and ReS₂. This work provides a bioinspired solution to high-performance, multifunctional 2D neuromorphic devices, stepping further toward their practical applications.