Development of a metal oxide-based molecular-gap atomic switch for unconventional computing

Nonlinear response to input is a key characteristic in such areas as reservoir computing. The growth and shrinkage of an Ag filament in a molecular-gap atomic switch shows nonlinear responses to input signals. Therefore, networked molecular-gap atomic switches are expected to show dynamical change in response to various input patterns. In this study we demonstrate Ag filament growth/shrinkage in a 70 nm gap, which is much wider than that of conventional molecular-gap atomic switches, for use in switches in unconventional computing. The larger gap enables both a nonlinear response and the integration of the function in networks of atomic switch arrays.