Organic Synaptic Transistors for Bio-Hybrid Neuromorphic Electronics

Neuromorphic electronics that emulate biological synapses and nerves can provide a solution to overcome the limitation in energy efficiency of von Neumann computing systems. With increasing demands on bio-medical applications such as healthcare monitoring and neuroprosthetic devices, bio-hybrid neuromorphic electronics are evaluated as ways to process biological information and replace biological systems. Successful realization of bio-hybrid neuromorphic systems requires replication of various synaptic properties in a single device, along with other characteristics such as biomimetic neural functionality, biocompatibility, soft mechanical properties, and low energy consumption. To satisfy these requirements, organic synaptic transistors (OSTs) are widely investigated as essential components of these applications. If the requirements can be met, bio-hybrid neuromorphic systems that use OSTs can be compatible with biological systems, and can operate stably at bio-electronic interfaces. Here, fundamentals of the OSTs emulating biological synapses and nerves are presented followed by a discussion of the requirements of the neuromorphic device/systems for bio-hybrid application. Finally, recent research on implementations of bio-hybrid neuromorphic devices and systems with future research directions, are reviewed.