Researchers at MIT have developed programmable transistors
The working mechanism of the device iselectrochemical incorporation of a tiny ion, a proton, into an insulating oxide to modulate its electronic conductivity, the authors explain. Scientists used a powerful electric field to accelerate protons and put ion transistors into nanosecond mode of operation.
Researchers note that the secret of newdevices using inorganic phosphosilicate glass. It provides ultra-fast movement of protons because it contains many nanometer-sized pores, the surfaces of which provide pathways for the diffusion of elementary particles. It can also withstand very strong pulsed electric fields.
Action potential in biological cellsrises and falls on a time scale of milliseconds as a potential difference of approximately 0.1 volts is limited by the stability of the water. In our work, we apply up to 10 volts through a special, nano-thick, hard glass film that conducts protons without damaging it. And the stronger the field, the faster the ion devices work.
Yu Li, professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and co-author of the work
In the human brain, learning occurs throughstrengthening and weakening of connections between synapses. Deep neural networks use a similar strategy when the weights of the nodes (neurons) are programmed with learning algorithms. When using processors, increasing and decreasing the electrical conductivity of proton resistors provides analog machine learning.
Conductivity is controlled by the movement of protons.To increase conductivity, more protons are pushed into the channel in the resistor, and to decrease conductivity, protons are expelled. This is achieved by using an electrolyte (similar to a battery) that conducts protons but blocks electrons. Increasing the speed of protons significantly speeds up the process of machine learning.
Cover image: Artistic illustration of a proton programmable resistor. Source: Ella Maru Studio, Murat Onen, MIT
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