Electronic synapses: bioinspired and biomimicking networks based on organic memristors

This thesis reports part of the results obtained during these 3 years of PhD program\nin which I have been involved in the MaDEleNA Project (Developing and\nStudying novel intelligent nanoMaterials and Devices towards Adaptive Electronics\nand Neuroscience Applications) founded by Provincia Autonoma di\nTrento. My research activity, based on the electrical properties of a special electrochemical\ndevice with memory features named Organic Memristor, embraces\ntwo of the most challenging fields of research: the neuromorphic engineering\nand the bio-electronics. We reported the realization of memristive devices able\nto perform typical features of the biological synaptic plasticity considering both\nthe well studied Long Term Potentiation (LTP) and the Long Term Depression\n(LTD) homosynaptic functions and the less investigated heterosynaptic plasticity.\nMoreover, we realized artificial neuronal networks in which the main\nrole was played by memristive devices whose ability of varying their conductive\nproperties made possible the accomplishment of an elementary perceptron\nand, afterwards, of an artificial neuronal network that can be considered as a\nprecursor of the double layer perceptron. Finally, we provided evidences of\nthe possibility of interfacing of the organic memristor with different cells testing\nthe bio-compatibility of the polymeric main component of the devices, and\nreporting proves of the possibility of connecting two nervous cells through an\norganic memristor preserving their biological communication mechanisms.