Mild and wild ferroelectrics and their potential role in neuromorphic computation

Salje, Ekhard K. H. (2021) Mild and wild ferroelectrics and their potential role in neuromorphic computation. APL Materials, 9 (1). 010903. ISSN 2166-532X DOI https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0035250

Text 5.0035250.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (7MB)

Abstract

In this Perspective, two interrelated new developments are discussed. The first relates to a much better understanding of the actual movement of domain walls during switching. Ferroelectric and ferroelastic domain movements proceed via the combination of jerky and smooth displacements of domain walls. A careful separation of these two mechanisms into “wild” and “mild” is crucial for the understanding of avalanches in ferroelectrics. Avalanche switching involves jerky domain wall movements and leads to singularities in the switching current. During avalanches, domain walls enhance and localize atomic transport and generate magnetism emerging from mobile kinks in the walls. The second development is based on the transport of dopants inside domain walls during nano-fabrication of devices. Progressing domain walls in electric fields can then—mainly in the case of wild wall movements—connect defect “reservoirs” similar to synapses connecting neurons in the brain. The walls take the role of synapses, and the defect clusters take that of neurons. The combination of fast moving domain walls and chemical transport inside the walls constitutes, therefore, ingredients for memristive device elements in neuromorphic computers. This application is predicted to play a major future role in ferroelectricity.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	2021AREP; IA77
Subjects:	03 - Mineral Sciences
Divisions:	03 - Mineral Sciences 07 - Gold Open Access
Journal or Publication Title:	APL Materials
Volume:	9
Page Range:	010903
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0035250
Depositing User:	Sarah Humbert
Date Deposited:	07 Feb 2021 03:46
Last Modified:	07 Feb 2021 03:46
URI:	http://eprints.esc.cam.ac.uk/id/eprint/6005

Actions (login required)

View Item