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Results for “floating-gate memory”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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Parallel programming of an ionic floating-gate memory array for scalable neuromorphic computing

Neuromorphic computers could overcome efficiency bottlenecks inherent to conventional computing through parallel programming and readout of artificial neural network weights in a crossbar memory array. However, selective and linear weight updates and <10-nanoampere read currents are required for learning that surpasses conventional computing efficiency. We introduce an ionic floating-gate memory array based on a polymer redox transistor connected to a conductive-bridge memory (CBM). Selective and linear programming of a redox transistor array is executed in parallel by overcoming the bridging threshold voltage of the CBMs. Synaptic weight readout with currents <10 nanoamperes is achieved by diluting the conductive polymer with an insulator to decrease the conductance. The redox transistors endure >1 billion write-read operations and support >1-megahertz write-read frequencies.

bio-inspired, energy storage (including batteries ↗

A Digitally Interfaced Analog Correlation Filter System for Object Tracking Applications

This study reports a 24×57 correlation filter system for object tracking applications. While digital interfacing of the input and output data enabled a standard and flexible way of communication with pre- and post-processing digital blocks, the multiply-accumulate (MAC) operations were performed in the analog domain to save power and area. The proposed system utilizes non-volatile floating-gate memories to store filter coefficients. The chip was fabricated in a 0.13- μm CMOS process and occupies 3.23 mm 2 of silicon area. The system dissipates 388.4 μW of power at a throughput of 11.3 kVec/s, achieving an energy efficiency of 25.2 pJ/MAC. Finally, experimental results for a custom filter designed to detect vehicles are presented.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Progress and Challenges for Memtransistors in Neuromorphic Circuits and Systems

Due to the increasing importance of artificial intelligence (AI), significant recent effort has been devoted to the development of neuromorphic circuits that seek to emulate the energy-efficient information processing of the brain. While non-volatile memory (NVM) based on resistive switches, phase-change memory, and magnetic tunnel junctions has shown potential for implementing neural networks, additional multi-terminal device concepts are required for more sophisticated bio-realistic functions. Of particular interest are memtransistors based on low-dimensional nanomaterials, which are capable of electrostatically tuning memory and learning behavior at the device level. Herein, a conceptual overview of the memtransistor is provided in the context of neuromorphic circuits. Recent progress is surveyed for memtransistors and related multi-terminal NVM devices including dual-gated floating-gate memories, dual-gated ferroelectric transistors, and dual-gated van der Waals heterojunctions. Further, the different materials systems and device architectures are classified based on the degree of control and relative tunability of synaptic behavior, with an emphasis on device concepts that harness the reduced dimensionality, weak electrostatic screening, and phase-changes properties of nanomaterials. Finally, strategies for achieving wafer-scale integration of memtransistors and multi-terminal NVM devices are delineated, with specific attention given to the materials challenges for practical neuromorphic circuits.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Ambipolar nonvolatile memory based on a quantum-dot transistor with a nanoscale floating gate

Using only solution processing methods, we developed ambipolar quantum-dot (QD) transistor floating-gate memory (FGM) that uses Au nanoparticles as a floating gate. Because of the bipolarity of the active channel of PbSe QDs, the memory could easily trap holes or electrons in the floating gate by programming/erasing (P/E) operations, which could shift the threshold voltage both up and down. As a result, the memory exhibited good programmable memory characteristics: a large memory window (ΔV{sub th} ∼ 15 V) and a long retention time (>10{sup 5 }s). The magnitude of ΔV{sub th} depended on both P/E voltages and the bias voltage (V{sub DS}): ΔV{sub th} was a cubic function to V{sub P/E} and linearly depended on V{sub DS}. Therefore, this FGM based on a QD transistor is a promising alternative to its inorganic counterparts owing to its advantages of bipolarity, high mobility, low cost, and large-area production.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Effect of tunneling layers on the performances of floating-gate based organic thin-film transistor nonvolatile memories

Two types of floating-gate based organic thin-film transistor nonvolatile memories (FG-OTFT-NVMs) were demonstrated, with poly(methyl methacrylate co glycidyl methacrylate) (P(MMA-GMA)) and tetratetracontane (TTC) as the tunneling layer, respectively. Their device performances were measured and compared. In the memory with a P(MMA-GMA) tunneling layer, typical unipolar hole transport was obtained with a relatively small mobility of 0.16 cm{sup 2}/V s. The unidirectional shift of turn-on voltage (V{sub on}) due to only holes trapped/detrapped in/from the floating gate resulted in a small memory window of 12.5 V at programming/erasing voltages (V{sub P}/V{sub E}) of ±100 V and a nonzero reading voltage. Benefited from the well-ordered molecule orientation and the trap-free surface of TTC layer, a considerably high hole mobility of 1.7 cm{sup 2}/V s and a visible feature of electrons accumulated in channel and trapped in floating-gate were achieved in the memory with a TTC tunneling layer. High hole mobility resulted in a high on current and a large memory on/off ratio of 600 at the V{sub P}/V{sub E} of ±100 V. Both holes and electrons were injected into floating-gate and overwritten each other, which resulted in a bidirectional V{sub on} shift. As a result, an enlarged memory window of 28.6 V at the V{sub P}/V{sub E} of ±100 V and a zero reading voltage were achieved. Based on our results, a strategy is proposed to optimize FG-OTFT-NVMs by choosing a right tunneling layer to improve the majority carrier mobility and realize ambipolar carriers injecting and trapping in the floating-gate.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Polarization of Bi{sub 2}Te{sub 3} thin film in a floating-gate capacitor structure

Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (MOS) capacitors with Bi{sub 2}Te{sub 3} thin film sandwiched and embedded inside the oxide layer have been fabricated and studied. The capacitors exhibit ferroelectric-like hysteresis which is a result of the robust, reversible polarization of the Bi{sub 2}Te{sub 3} thin film while the gate voltage sweeps. The temperature-dependent capacitance measurement indicates that the activation energy is about 0.33 eV for separating the electron and hole pairs in the bulk of Bi{sub 2}Te{sub 3}, and driving them to either the top or bottom surface of the thin film. Because of the fast polarization speed, potentially excellent endurance, and the complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor compatibility, the Bi{sub 2}Te{sub 3} embedded MOS structures are very interesting for memory application.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗