Ferroelectricity driven by magnetism in quasi-one-dimensional Ba9Fe3Se15

The spin-induced ferroelectricity in quasi-1D spin chain system is little known, which could be fundamentally different from those in three-dimensional (3D) system. Here, we report the ferroelectricity driven by a tilted screw spin order and its exotic dynamic in the spin-chain compound Ba9Fe3Se15. It is found that the spin-induced polarization has already occurred and exhibits magnetoelectric coupling behavior far above the long-range spin order (LRSO) at TN = 14 K. The polarized entities grow and their dynamic responses slow down gradually with decreasing temperature and permeate the whole lattice to form 3D ferroelectricity at TN. Our results reveal that the short-range spin orders (SRSOs) in the decoupled chains play a key role for the exotic dynamic in this dimension reduced system. Ba9Fe3Se15 is the only example so far which exhibits electric polarization above LRSO temperature because of the formation of SRSOs

New-Generation Ferroelectric AlScN Materials

Highlights Ferroelectricity and domain dynamics of emerging ferroelectric AlScN films were discussed. The performance optimization of ferroelectric AlScN films grown by different deposition techniques was comprehensively analyzed. The challenges and perspectives regarding the commercial avenue of AlScN-based memories and in-memory computing applications were summarized

Characterization and Application of PVDF and Its Copolymer Films Prepared by Spin-Coating and Langmuir–Blodgett Method

Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and its copolymers are key polymers, displaying properties such as flexibility and electroactive responses, including piezoelectricity, pyroelectricity, and ferroelectricity. In the past several years, they have been applied in numerous applications, such as memory, transducers, actuators, and energy harvesting and have shown thriving prospects in the ongoing research and commercialization process. The crystalline polymorphs of PVDF can present nonpolar α, ε phase and polar β, γ, and δ phases with different processing methods. The copolymers, such as poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) (P(VDF-TrFE)), can crystallize directly into a phase analogous to the β phase of PVDF. Since the β phase shows the highest dipole moment among polar phases, many reproducible and efficient methods producing β-phase PVDF and its copolymer have been proposed. In this review, PVDF and its copolymer films prepared by spin-coating and Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) method are introduced, and relevant characterization techniques are highlighted. Finally, the development of memory, artificial synapses, and medical applications based on PVDF and its copolymers is elaborated

Ferroelectric materials for neuroinspired computing applications

In recent years, the emergence of numerous applications of artificial intelligence (AI) has sparked a new technological revolution. These applications include facial recognition, autonomous driving, intelligent robotics, and image restoration. However, the data processing and storage procedures in the conventional von Neumann architecture are discrete, which leads to the “memory wall” problem. As a result, such architecture is incompatible with AI requirements for efficient and sustainable processing. Exploring new computing architectures and material bases is therefore imperative. Inspired by neurobiological systems, in-memory and in-sensor computing techniques provide a new means of overcoming the limitations inherent in the von Neumann architecture. The basis of neural morphological computation is a crossbar array of high-density, high-efficiency non-volatile memory devices. Among the numerous candidate memory devices, ferroelectric memory devices with non-volatile polarization states, low power consumption and strong endurance are expected to be ideal candidates for neuromorphic computing. Further research on the complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) compatibility for these devices is underway and has yielded favorable results. Herein, we first introduce the development of ferroelectric materials as well as their mechanisms of polarization reversal and detail the applications of ferroelectric synaptic devices in artificial neural networks. Subsequently, we introduce the latest developments in ferroelectrics-based in-memory and in-sensor computing. Finally, we review recent works on hafnium-based ferroelectric memory devices with CMOS process compatibility and give a perspective for future developments

Ferroelectric polymers for neuromorphic computing

International audienceThe last few decades have witnessed the rapid development of electronic computers relying on von Neumann architecture. However, due to the spatial separation of the memory unit from the computing processor, continuous data movements between them result in intensive time and energy consumptions, which unfortunately hinder the further development of modern computers. Inspired by biological brain, the in situ computing of memristor architectures, which has long been considered to hold unprecedented potential to solve the von Neumann bottleneck, provides an alternative network paradigm for the next-generation electronics. Among the materials for designing memristors, i.e., nonvolatile memories with multistate tunable resistances, ferroelectric polymers have drawn much research interest due to intrinsic analog switching property and excellent flexibility. In this review, recent advances on artificial synapses based on solution-processed ferroelectric polymers are discussed. The relationship between materials' properties, structural design, switching mechanisms, and systematic applications is revealed. We first introduce the commonly used ferroelectric polymers. Afterward, device structures and the switching mechanisms underlying ferroelectric synapse are discussed. The current applications of organic ferroelectric synapses in advanced neuromorphic systems are also summarized. Eventually, the remaining challenges and some strategies to eliminate non-ideality of synaptic devices are analyzed

Research progress on solutions to the sneak path issue in memristor crossbar arrays

International audienceThis review timely surveyed recent progress on solutions to the sneak path issue in memristor crossbar arrays