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Molecular dynamics simulation of nanofilament breakage in neuromorphic nanoparticle networks

Wenkai Wu, Theodoros Pavloudis, Alexey V Verkhovtsev Orcid Logo, Andrey V Solov’yov, Richard Palmer Orcid Logo

Nanotechnology, Volume: 33, Issue: 27, Start page: 275602

Swansea University Authors: Wenkai Wu, Theodoros Pavloudis, Richard Palmer Orcid Logo

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Abstract

Neuromorphic computing systems may be the future of computing and cluster-based networks are a promising architecture for the realization of these systems. The creation and dissolution of synapses between the clusters are of great importance for their function. In this work, we model the thermal bre...

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Published in: Nanotechnology
ISSN: 0957-4484 1361-6528
Published: IOP Publishing 2022
Online Access: Check full text

URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa60490
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Abstract: Neuromorphic computing systems may be the future of computing and cluster-based networks are a promising architecture for the realization of these systems. The creation and dissolution of synapses between the clusters are of great importance for their function. In this work, we model the thermal breakage of a gold nanofilament located between two gold nanoparticles via molecular dynamics simulations to study on the mechanisms of neuromorphic nanoparticle-based devices. We employ simulations of Au nanowires of different lengths (20–80 Å), widths (4–8 Å) and shapes connecting two Au1415 nanoparticles (NPs) and monitor the evolution of the system via a detailed structural identification analysis. We found that atoms of the nanofilament gradually aggregate towards the clusters, causing the middle of wire to gradually thin and then break. Most of the system remains crystalline during this process but the center is molten. The terminal NPs increase the melting point of the NWs by fixing the middle wire and act as recrystallization areas. We report a strong dependence on the width of the NWs, but also their length and structure. These results may serve as guidelines for the realization of cluster-based neuromorphic computing systems.
Item Description: Data availability statement: The data that support the findings of this study are available upon reasonable request from the authors.
Keywords: Atomic-switch networks, nanoclusters, nanoparticles, neuromorphic computing, molecular dynamics
College: Faculty of Science and Engineering
Funders: The authors are grateful for partial financial support from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme—the RADON project (GA 872494) within the H2020-MSCA-RISE-2019 call. This work was also supported in part by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Project no. 415716638).
Issue: 27
Start Page: 275602