2023/12/07 by Jonas Mensing, Mensing, Jonas, Wilfred G. van der Wiel +3 · 1 citation
Chemistry · Engineering · Neuroscience · #Advanced Memory and Neural Computing #Computational Physics (physics.comp-ph) #Electrochemical Analysis and Applications #Emerging Technologies (cs.ET) #FOS: Computer and information sciences #FOS: Physical sciences #Hardware Architecture (cs.AR) #Methodology (stat.ME) #Neural and Evolutionary Computing (cs.NE) #Neuroscience and Neural Engineering
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2312.04717
openalex publication_date 2023/12/07 · openalex created_date 2023/12/12 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Nanoparticles interconnected by insulating organic molecules exhibit nonlinear switching behavior at low temperatures. By assembling these switches into a network and manipulating charge transport dynamics through surrounding electrodes, the network can be reconfigurably functionalized to act as any Boolean logic gate. This work introduces a kinetic Monte Carlo-based simulation tool, applying established principles of single electronics to model charge transport dynamics in nanoparticle networks. We functionalize nanoparticle networks as Boolean logic gates and assess their quality using a fitness function. Based on the definition of fitness, we derive new metrics to quantify essential nonlinear properties of the network, including negative differential resistance and nonlinear separability. These nonlinear properties are crucial not only for functionalizing the network as Boolean logic gates but also when our networks are functionalized for brain-inspired computing applications in the future. We address fundamental questions about the dependence of fitness and nonlinear properties on system size, number of surrounding electrodes, and electrode positioning. We assert the overall benefit of having more electrodes, with proximity to the network's output being pivotal for functionality and nonlinearity. Additionally, we demonstrate a optimal system size and argue for breaking symmetry in electrode positioning to favor nonlinear properties.