Polydopamine-Based All Solid-State Flexible Organic Neuromorphic Devices for Access Device-Free Artificial Neural Networks

Recent developments in organic neuromorphic devices and biohybrid interfaces are promising examples that show potential to improve implantable devices toward organic adaptive brain-machine interfaces. However, fully integrated neuromorphic arrays still require relatively complex circuitry that includes multiple access devices to ensure synaptic weight stability and prevent sneak paths. Here, it is shown that polydopamine (PDA), the byproduct of dopamine autoxidation, promotes proton conductivity and can serve as a solid-state electrolyte. Slow kinetics and high energy barriers of the PDA solid electrolyte prevent loss of conductance state for the device with a three-terminal configuration without an access device, while partial dedoping of the conductive polymer channel by PDA simultaneously increases its stability in ambient environments. Fabricating the neuromorphic device on a flexible poly(styrene-block-isobutylene-block-styrene) substrate and the inherent biocompatibility of PDA demonstrates its potential toward more sophisticated implantable neuromorphic circuits for advanced neuroprosthetics.