Micro&Macro Electronics Applications

Brain-inspired computing mimics the parallel and efficient brain data processing for several challenging applications, among which data analytics and pattern/speech recognition. However, at the moment the emulation of the large connectivity and the limited power consumption characterizing the brain events is yet to be optimized.

In this light, recent work on the development of memristive based systems has paved the way for the development of promising neuromorphic systems.

Our research activity in this direction is essentially based on the realization and characterization of neuromorphic systems based on organic materials (i.e. conductive polymers) and hard materials (i.e. Titanium doped Diamond and oxides and chalcogenides).

This materials selection allows us to explore different functionalities, to realize flexible, multi-states, well-performing devices while containing production cost and energy consumption.

Within the research line based on conductive polymers, we are carrying out several activities among which the optimization of the involved materials (Flex. Print. Electron. 2019), the developing of large scale (Adv. Electron. Mater 2021), low cost and mask-less fabrication protocols, the study and the fine understanding of the properties of memory based devices with innovative approaches and methods (Chaos, Solitons & Fractals 2020) and the application of neuromorphic devices in systems such as Artificial Neural Networks (Adv. Intell. Syst. 2023).

We also explored the development of electronic device based on titanium doped CVD diamond demonstrating (for the first time) that such material are excellent candidates as resistive switching devices (Adv. Mater. Technol. 2023).

Furthermore, our group is committed to the exploration of emerging technologies like Phase Change (PC) device. PC materials, which can exist in two distinct solid states—amorphous and crystalline—can be toggled between these states using electrical or laser pulses.

This switchability, coupled with the materials’ contrasting conductive and reflective properties, alters the resistance and enables binary data storage.

We are developing and testing new chalcogenide materials to create memristor devices. The activity is based on the Radio Frequency sputtering synthesis of thin films and multilayer structures and characterization of materials and memory devices for microelectronics (structural, morphological, chemical and electrical properties).

Recent research is investigating the possibility of integrating PC devices with high thermic stability on flexible substrates, which could significantly influence the electronics market. This includes, for instance, the development of bendable nonvolatile memory devices for the Internet of Things (IoT) or intelligent sensors designed for monitoring food and pharmaceuticals.

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