Stable and Tunable Quantum Conductance in Spider-Silk-like Synaptic Device for Neurocomputing

The quantum conductance (QC) behaviors in synaptic devices with stable and tunable conductance states are essential for high-density storage and brain-like neurocomputing (NC). In this work, inspired by the discontinuous transport of fluid in spider silk, a synaptic device composed of a silicon oxide nanowire network embedded with silicon quantum dots (Si-QDs@SiO_x) is designed. The tunable QC behaviors are achieved in both the SET and RESET processes, and the QC states exhibit stable retention time exceeding 10⁴ s in the synaptic device and show stable reproducibility after an interval of two months. The synaptic plasticity, including long-term potentiation/depression and Pavlovian conditioning function, is simulated based on the tunable conductance. The mechanism of stable and tunable QC behaviors is analyzed and clarified by beading effect of spider silk in Si-QDs@SiO_x nanowires structure. The digit recognition capability of the device is evaluated by simulation using an artificial neural network consisting of the Si-QDs@SiO_x-based synaptic device. These results provide insights into the development of neurocomputing systems with high classification accuracy. © 2024 American Chemical Society.