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On-chip memristive artificial nano-synapses and neural networks

Objective

These last fifty years have seen Von Neumann computing architectures boom. Nevertheless, even the most powerful digital computers cannot rapidly solve apparently simple problems such as image interpretation. However, because its structure is
massively parallel and analog, the human brain is able to perform such tasks in a fraction of second. Neuromorphic circuits allow to go beyond conventional digital architectures. An on-chip implementation of these circuits requires to be able to fabricate nanometer sized, analog, reconfigurable, fast components. While the spiking neurons can easily be fabricated with classical CMOS technology, the synapse plasticity is challenging to achieve. In 1971 L. Chua has introduced a new circuit element, called memristor , a non-linear resistance which by definition includes a memory effect. Only last year, a team in Hewlett-Packard has for the first time proposed a device for synaptic applications showing memristive properties based on electromigration of oxygen vacancies in Titanium Oxide. The project NanoBrain aims first at developing alternative memristors based on different physical principles (spintronics and ferroelectricity), avoiding in particular the potential over-heating and fragility of the electromigration-based devices. The final goal of the project is to prove the efficiency of these new nano-synapses by integrating them into functional neural networks.

Call for proposal

ERC-2010-StG_20091028
See other projects for this call

Coordinator

CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRS
EU contribution
€ 1 495 803,00
Address
Rue michel ange 3
75794 Paris
France

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Region
Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Paris
Activity type
Research Organisations
Principal investigator
Julie Grollier (Dr.)
Administrative Contact
Véronique Debisschop (Ms.)
Links
Total cost
No data

Beneficiaries (1)