Observed Light Emission (“Glow”) From NBO2 Device Channels while Undergoing Threshold Switching from a High- to low- Resistance state. Credit: Mahnaz Islam, Stephanie Bohaichuk et al. (Nature Electronics, 2025). Doi: 10.1038/s41928-025-01406-1.
Over the past decades, engineers have introduced a wide range of computing systems inspired by the human brain or designed to emulate some of its functions. These include devices that artificially reproduce the behavior of brain cells (EG, Neurons), by processing and transmitting signals in the form of Electrical Pulses.
Most Neuron-Inspired Devices Developed SO Far Use Eather Electrons or Photons to Process and Transmit Information, Rather than integrating the two. This is a government photo and electronic systems typically have very different architectures, and converting the syngnels they relay on can be challenging and lead to energy losses.
Researchers at Stanford University, Sandia National Laboratories, And Purdue University Recently Developed New Electro-Optical Devices that Can Mimic Neuron-Like Electrical Pulses and Simultaneutio Pulses oscillating light. These devices, referred to as electro-optical mott neurons, was into introduced in a paper Published in Nature Electronics,
“This work began as a simple study of switching in niobium dioxide (NBO2) Devices, “Eric Pop, Co-Senior Author of the Paper, Told Tech XPlore. NBO2 Channel. The light emission occurred only during the evening electrical resistance switching of the devices, and this had never ben reported before, to our knowledge. Thus, we decide to study it further to understand its origins. “
The first objective of this recent work by pop and his colleagues was to determine the spectral range of the emission they noticed in nbo2 Devices. In addition, the reserchers hoped to determine where this observed emission would oscillate in sync with electoral oscillations, which is someating such nbo2 Devices are alredy knowledge for. Finally, they also wanted to better undertand the origins of the unexpected light emission they have observed.
“We Started with Thin Films of Nbo2 Deposited by sputtering, then Used Standard Fabrication Technique to Make Micrometer-Scale Devices With two Metal Contacts, “Explained Mahnaz Islam, First Author of the Paper.
“These devices operate through neuron-like switching, where the resistance changes are abruptly and resistance changes abruptly and resistance Which can drive self-sustained oscillations in the device, enabling them to mimic the dynamic spiking activity of biological neurons. “
Interestingly, the researchers observed that during the electrical switching process, the NBO2 Channel in their devices also emitted visible light, meaning that each spike carried bot an electrical and an optical signature that was perfectly synchronized in time. This was the first time that this electro-optical synchronization was observed in an Electronic Neuron-Inspired Device.
“The observed light emission in these devices occurs in the visible-run wavelends and is perfectly synchronized with the Electrical Oscillations in NBO2“Said Islam.
“By Combining Our Experimental Results with Prior Literature, We We WERE ALECTRONIC Origin for this Imagesion, Completing the Proof-Off-Constraction. Electro-Optical Mott Neurons Merge Computation and Communication Into A Single Element, Avoiding The Need for Separate Light Sources or Optical Transducers. “
Previous efforts aimed at connecting electrical processors with optical interconnects relieved on Several different components and costly Energy Conversion Strategies. In contrast, the device development by this research team produces electrical spikes with simultaneous visible visible light pulses, a phenomenon that would be leveraged to realiz-running optical signing Is Synchronized with Local Electrical Processing.
“This dual-domain capability has made major implications,” said islam. “For example, in metrology, synchronized optical and electrical spikes offer a new way to probe correlated electron systems in real time. With optical sensors for compact, in-sensor processing.
“As for electro-optical computing and communication, eliminating separate transducers clock enable dense neuromorphic systems where optical pulses handle Handle HIGH-Spec Electrical States Perform Local Computation and Memory. “
This Recent Paper Block Open New Possibilities for the Realization of Neuron-Inspired devices, as it could allow enginers to relevly Combine Electrical and Optical Functions In A System White System White Expected Equipment or Signal Conversion Strategies. The researchers are now hoping to continue improvement the artificial neurons they developed and broadening their capability.
“In future work, we plan to scale and integrate nbo2 Electro-Optical Neurons Into Larger Arrays where devices can communicate optical with each other, enabling the study of light-dated signing in neuromorphic networks, “SAID ISlam.
“Our current devices are not yet optimized for capturing Light. “
Islam and Her Co-Authors Bold also like to improve the quality of the material Samples used to create the electro-optical mott neurons, as this count further boost the devices ‘CONVITICES’ CONVICENCY. This could be achieved by passivating non-radiative defects, Incorprosing luminescence centers to tune emission wavelends, optimizing the overall geometry of the devices and outcoups Enhance Light Extraction Efficiency.
“Optical computing has come a long way in the last few decades, by enabling types of information process with light that is not easy with traditional Pure Electronics,” Said Suhas Kumar, Co-Senarian The paper. “However, their integration into Prevailing Electronic Circuits is Still challenging. as well. “
Written for you by author Ingrid fadelliEdited by Gaby clarkAnd Fact-CHACKED and Reviewed by Robert egan—This article is the result of careful human work. We relay on readers like you to keep independent science counalism alive. If this reporting matters to you, please consider a donation (especially monthly). You’ll Get an ad-free Account as a Thank-You.
More information:
Mahnaz islam et al, an electro-optical mott neuron based on niobium dioxide, Nature Electronics (2025). Doi: 10.1038/s41928-025-01406-1,
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