Crystallized conjugated polymers constructed photonic synaptic transistors for in-sensor reservoir computing

doi:10.1016/j.jmst.2025.07.019

J. Mater. Sci. Technol. ›› 2026, Vol. 252: 147-153.DOI: 10.1016/j.jmst.2025.07.019

• Research Article • Previous Articles Next Articles

Crystallized conjugated polymers constructed photonic synaptic transistors for in-sensor reservoir computing

Zhiyuan Zhao^a,b,1, Lu Huang^c,1, Zhixuan Liu^a, Xingji Liu^a, Chen Liang^a, Yingchao Hu^a, Wangyu Wu^d, Yayi Chen^a, Wei Zhong^a, Jianfeng Zhang^a, Xuecui Zou^a, Dengyun Lei^a, Yao Ni^a,*, Xin Qin^b,*, Yuan Liu^a,*

^aSchool of Integrated Circuits, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China;
^bKey Laboratory of Ecological Restoration of Regional Contaminated Environment, Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Shenyang University, Shenyang 110044, China;
^cSchool of Physics &Optoelectronic Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China;
^dSchool of Computer Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3DR, UK

Received:2025-05-11 Revised:2025-07-12 Accepted:2025-07-16 Published:2026-05-01 Online:2026-05-06
Contact: ^* E-mail addresses: niyao@gdut.edu.cn (Y. Ni), qinxinivy@126.com (X. Qin),eeliuyuan@gdut.edu.cn (Y. Liu) .
About author:¹These authors contributed equally to this work.

Abstract

Abstract: Neuromorphic computing continues to advance, fueling the pursuit of enhanced information processing and learning capabilities. This study introduces a novel photonic synaptic transistor (PST) based on crystallized conjugated polymers. Engineered to efficiently respond to standard temporal signals and digital images, this PST mimics the human retina's in-sensor computing mechanism. Developed through low-temperature solvent engineering, the PST optimizes charge carrier mobility and light absorption by finely tuning the polymer's microstructure. In a groundbreaking application, this PST has been used for image classification and Morse code recognition within reservoir computing frameworks. The polymer's microstructure modulation notably enhances the device's short-term and long-term plasticity, synaptic weight update efficiency, and training and recognition accuracy. These advancements underscore the potential of crystallized conjugated polymer-based PSTs to revolutionize next-generation neuromorphic computing systems.

Key words: Photonic synaptic transistor, Crystallized conjugated polymers, Short-term plasticity, Long-term plasticity, Reservoir computing

Zhiyuan Zhao, Lu Huang, Zhixuan Liu, Xingji Liu, Chen Liang, Yingchao Hu, Wangyu Wu, Yayi Chen, Wei Zhong, Jianfeng Zhang, Xuecui Zou, Dengyun Lei, Yao Ni, Xin Qin, Yuan Liu. Crystallized conjugated polymers constructed photonic synaptic transistors for in-sensor reservoir computing[J]. J. Mater. Sci. Technol., 2026, 252: 147-153.

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Crystallized conjugated polymers constructed photonic synaptic transistors for in-sensor reservoir computing

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