Synaptic Learning and Memory Functions Achieved in Self-rectifying BFO Memristor under Extreme Environmental Temperature

Abstract

Memristors have been intensively studied in recent years as promising building blocks for next-generation non-volatile memory, artificial neural networks and brain-inspired computing systems. Even though the environment adaptability of memristor has been required in many application fields, it has been rarely reported due to the underlying mechanism could become invalid especially at an elevated temperature. Here, we focus on achieving synaptic learning and memory functions in BiFeO3 memristor in a wide range of temperature. We have proved the ferroelectricity of BFO films at a record-high temperature of 500 {\deg}C by piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) measurement. Due to the robust ferroelectricity of BFO thin film, an analog-like resistance switching behavior has been clearly found in a wide range of temperature, which is attributed to the reversal of ferroelectric polarization. Various synaptic functions including long-term potentiation (LTP), depression (LTD), consecutive potentiation/depression (P/D) and spike-timing dependent plasticity (STDP) have been realized from -170 to 300 {\deg}C, illustrating their potential for electronic applications even under extreme environmental temperature.