Ultralow-Power Vertical Transistors for Multilevel Decoding Modes

Adv Mater. 2023 Jan;35(3):e2208600. doi: 10.1002/adma.202208600. Epub 2022 Dec 16.

Abstract

Organic field-effect transistors with parallel transmission and learning functions are of interest in the development of brain-inspired neuromorphic computing. However, the poor performance and high power consumption are the two main issues limiting their practical applications. Herein, an ultralow-power vertical transistor is demonstrated based on transition-metal carbides/nitrides (MXene) and organic single crystal. The transistor exhibits a high JON of 16.6 mA cm-2 and a high JON /JOFF ratio of 9.12 × 105 under an ultralow working voltage of -1 mV. Furthermore, it can successfully simulate the functions of biological synapse under electrical modulation along with consuming only 8.7 aJ of power per spike. It also permits multilevel information decoding modes with a significant gap between the readable time of professionals and nonprofessionals, producing a high signal-to-noise ratio up to 114.15 dB. This work encourages the use of vertical transistors and organic single crystal in decoding information and advances the development of low-power neuromorphic systems.

Keywords: artificial synapses; microspacing in-air sublimation; organic vertical transistors; ultralow power consumption.