Negative Persistent Photoconductance Effect and Its Neuromorphic Computing Applications
LI Yachao1,2, HU Lingxiang2, LIU Wei2, YE Zhizhen3,4, ZHUGE Fei2,4,5,6,*
1 School of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, Zhejiang, China; 2 Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo 315201, Zhejiang, China; 3 State Key Laboratory of Silicon and Advanced Semiconductor Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China; 4 Institute of Wenzhou, Zhejiang University, Wenzhou 325006, Zhejiang, China; 5 Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; 6 School of Materials Science and Optoelectronic Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, China
Abstract: With the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence, the traditional von Neumann architecture is encountering a bottleneck in boosting computational power, making it difficult to satisfy the need for efficient and high-speed computing required by complex algorithms such as deep learning. Neuromorphic computing has emerged as a solution to this challenge. Inspired by the human brain, it utilizes an integrated architecture for data processing and storage, offering high parallelism and extremely low power consumption. The negative persistent photoconductance (NPPC) effect refers to the phenomenon where the electrical conductance of a semiconducting material or device decreases under light illumination, with the reduced conductance persisting for a relatively long time even after the light is removed. Neuromorphic devices leveraging the NPPC effect can flexibly adjust their conductance in response to changes in light signals, thereby enhancing information sensing and processing accuracy. This capability provides significant advantages in complex interactive environments, while also reducing energy consumption and simplifying hardware architecture. These features make NPPC devices highly promising for neuromorphic computing applications. This paper first introduces the fundamental concept of photoconductance and systematically discusses the physical mechanisms underlying the NPPC effect, including charge transfer, defect trapping, charge tunneling, and polarization switching. It then details the applications of NPPC in neuromorphic computing, focusing on simulating synaptic and neuronal functions. Finally, it provides an outlook on the future opportunities and challenges faced by NPPC-based neuromorphic devices.
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