Power consumption, thermal management, and wiring challenge of the binary serial architecture drive the search for alternative paradigms to computing. Of special interest is neuromorphic computing, in which materials and device structures are designed to mimic neuronal functionalities with energy-efficient non-linear responses and both short- and long-term plasticities. In this work, we explore and report on the enabling potential of single-electron tunneling (SET) in PbS nanoplatelets epitaxially grown in the liquid phase on InP, which present these key features. By extrapolating the experimental data in the SET regime, we predict and model synaptic operations. The low-energy (<fJ), high-speed (MHz) operation and scalable fabrication process of the PbS/InP nanoplatelets make such a nanoscale system attractive as neuromorphic computing building blocks.
Keywords: InP; PbS; brain-inspired computing; nanoplatelets; neuromorphic; scanning tunneling spectroscopy; single-electron tunneling; synapse.