Synaptic Plasticity and Visual Memory in a Neuromorphic 2D Memitter Based on WS2 Monolayers

Abstract Neuromorphic computing aims to leverage physical phenomena of adaptive materials for emulating information processing capabilities and effectiveness of biological neuronal circuits. In this framework, memristors (resistors with memory) based on 2D materials are demonstrated for the hardware implementation of highly integrated artificial neural networks. All the works reported thus far exploited electrical properties of 2D materials to emulate neuromorphic functionalities. Here, a 2D memitter (emitter with memory) is reported on that exploits the stimuli-responsive photoluminescence of a monolayer WS2 for neuromorphic-type of data processing. A combined experimental and modeling approach reveals that photoluminescent dynamics triggered by optical stimulation emulates Short-Term synaptic Plasticity and Visual Short-Term Memory typical of biological systems. While spatio-temporal processing capabilities of input signals can be used for information processing in the context of reservoir computing, the capability of the 2D memitter of sensing, processing, and memorizing-forgetting optical inputs in the same physical substrate can be utilized for in-sensor computing.