Sol-Gel Composites-Based Flexible and Transparent Amorphous Indium Gallium Zinc Oxide Thin-Film Synaptic Transistors for Wearable Intelligent Electronics

In this study, we propose the fabrication of sol-gel composite-based flexible and transparent synaptic transistors on polyimide (PI) substrates. Because a low thermal budget process is essential for the implementation of high-performance synaptic transistors on flexible PI substrates, microwave anne...

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Main Authors: Jin-Gi Min, Won-Ju Cho
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-11-01
Series:Molecules
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/23/7233
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author Jin-Gi Min
Won-Ju Cho
author_facet Jin-Gi Min
Won-Ju Cho
author_sort Jin-Gi Min
collection DOAJ
description In this study, we propose the fabrication of sol-gel composite-based flexible and transparent synaptic transistors on polyimide (PI) substrates. Because a low thermal budget process is essential for the implementation of high-performance synaptic transistors on flexible PI substrates, microwave annealing (MWA) as a heat treatment process suitable for thermally vulnerable substrates was employed and compared to conventional thermal annealing (CTA). In addition, a solution-processed wide-bandgap amorphous In-Ga-Zn (2:1:1) oxide (<i>a</i>-IGZO) channel, an organic polymer chitosan electrolyte-based electric double layer (EDL), and a high-<i>k</i> Ta<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> thin-film dielectric layer were applied to achieve high flexibility and transparency. The essential synaptic plasticity of the flexible and transparent synaptic transistors fabricated with the MWA process was demonstrated by single spike, paired-pulse facilitation, multi-spike facilitation excitatory post-synaptic current (EPSC), and three-cycle evaluation of potentiation and depression behaviors. Furthermore, we verified the mechanical robustness of the fabricated device through repeated bending tests and demonstrated that the electrical properties were stably maintained. As a result, the proposed sol-gel composite-based synaptic transistors are expected to serve as transparent and flexible intelligent electronic devices capable of stable neural operation.
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spelling doaj.art-7cd536662aa442d6bb385ee3612df5f02023-11-23T02:49:26ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492021-11-012623723310.3390/molecules26237233Sol-Gel Composites-Based Flexible and Transparent Amorphous Indium Gallium Zinc Oxide Thin-Film Synaptic Transistors for Wearable Intelligent ElectronicsJin-Gi Min0Won-Ju Cho1Department of Electronic Materials Engineering, Kwangwoon University, Gwangun-ro 20, Nowon-gu, Seoul 01897, KoreaDepartment of Electronic Materials Engineering, Kwangwoon University, Gwangun-ro 20, Nowon-gu, Seoul 01897, KoreaIn this study, we propose the fabrication of sol-gel composite-based flexible and transparent synaptic transistors on polyimide (PI) substrates. Because a low thermal budget process is essential for the implementation of high-performance synaptic transistors on flexible PI substrates, microwave annealing (MWA) as a heat treatment process suitable for thermally vulnerable substrates was employed and compared to conventional thermal annealing (CTA). In addition, a solution-processed wide-bandgap amorphous In-Ga-Zn (2:1:1) oxide (<i>a</i>-IGZO) channel, an organic polymer chitosan electrolyte-based electric double layer (EDL), and a high-<i>k</i> Ta<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> thin-film dielectric layer were applied to achieve high flexibility and transparency. The essential synaptic plasticity of the flexible and transparent synaptic transistors fabricated with the MWA process was demonstrated by single spike, paired-pulse facilitation, multi-spike facilitation excitatory post-synaptic current (EPSC), and three-cycle evaluation of potentiation and depression behaviors. Furthermore, we verified the mechanical robustness of the fabricated device through repeated bending tests and demonstrated that the electrical properties were stably maintained. As a result, the proposed sol-gel composite-based synaptic transistors are expected to serve as transparent and flexible intelligent electronic devices capable of stable neural operation.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/23/7233chitosanmicrowave annealingflexible substratesolution-processed <i>a</i>-IGZO channelsynaptic transistors
spellingShingle Jin-Gi Min
Won-Ju Cho
Sol-Gel Composites-Based Flexible and Transparent Amorphous Indium Gallium Zinc Oxide Thin-Film Synaptic Transistors for Wearable Intelligent Electronics
Molecules
chitosan
microwave annealing
flexible substrate
solution-processed <i>a</i>-IGZO channel
synaptic transistors
title Sol-Gel Composites-Based Flexible and Transparent Amorphous Indium Gallium Zinc Oxide Thin-Film Synaptic Transistors for Wearable Intelligent Electronics
title_full Sol-Gel Composites-Based Flexible and Transparent Amorphous Indium Gallium Zinc Oxide Thin-Film Synaptic Transistors for Wearable Intelligent Electronics
title_fullStr Sol-Gel Composites-Based Flexible and Transparent Amorphous Indium Gallium Zinc Oxide Thin-Film Synaptic Transistors for Wearable Intelligent Electronics
title_full_unstemmed Sol-Gel Composites-Based Flexible and Transparent Amorphous Indium Gallium Zinc Oxide Thin-Film Synaptic Transistors for Wearable Intelligent Electronics
title_short Sol-Gel Composites-Based Flexible and Transparent Amorphous Indium Gallium Zinc Oxide Thin-Film Synaptic Transistors for Wearable Intelligent Electronics
title_sort sol gel composites based flexible and transparent amorphous indium gallium zinc oxide thin film synaptic transistors for wearable intelligent electronics
topic chitosan
microwave annealing
flexible substrate
solution-processed <i>a</i>-IGZO channel
synaptic transistors
url https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/23/7233
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AT wonjucho solgelcompositesbasedflexibleandtransparentamorphousindiumgalliumzincoxidethinfilmsynaptictransistorsforwearableintelligentelectronics