Nanoionics Devices Enabling Various Performance, Such as Neuromorphic Functions

In today's information society, an enormous amount of data is generated daily, more in fact than humans can process, so there is a growing need for high-performance artificial intelligence systems that can quickly learn from such data and make appropriate decisions. One promising type of computer, which is thought to be able to satisfy this requirement, consists of neuromorphic systems that operate by mimicking the functions of the human brain. The development of such brain-like computers, smaller in size and with low-power consumption, would require not only further progress of conventional semiconductor devices, but also the creation of new conceptual devices that operate on analog signals, in much the same way that human neurons operate.<br/>Material properties are greatly affected by slight changes in the arrangement of their constituent atoms. We have been actively exploring interesting nano-phenomena arising from the control of nanostructures, such as the arrangement of atoms. The nanostructure control can be achieved by the use of ionic architectonics method that allow the local control of ion transport and electrochemical chemical reaction occurring at the interfaces and on the surfaces of solids. Our research has enabled us to create nanoionics devices with electrical, magnetic, and optical functions that operate by utilizing such nano phenomena. In this talk, I will introduce an artificial vision device that mimics the human retina to reproduce optical illusions, a decision-making device that learns and makes decisions on its own, and other nanoionics devices for information and communication technology that we have created as part of our research. These ionic devices are be expected to be indispensable in the development of the next generation of hardware-oriented artificial systems, which will complement or even replace conventional software-oriented artificial intelligence systems.