Issue 27, 2025

Unveiling the switching mechanism of robust tetrazine-based memristive nociceptors via a spectroelectrochemical approach

Abstract

Threshold-switching memristors exhibit significant potential for developing artificial nociceptors as their working principles and electrical characteristics closely mimic biological nociceptors. However, the development of high-performance artificial nociceptors is hindered by the randomness of conductive filament (CF) formation/rupture, caused by low-quality resistive switching (RS) films, and complex and uncontrollable RS mechanisms. Organic small-molecule materials are favored in electronic devices for their designability, low cost, easy synthesis, and high stability. In this study, we meticulously designed two D–π–A–π–D structured molecules, designated as TZ-1 and TZ-2, to serve as the RS layer in artificial nociceptors. By precisely modulating the electron-donating ability of the donor groups in these molecules, some key electrical properties of the memristor, such as the low SET voltage (0.42 V) and variation (0.055), high current ON/OFF ratio (∼10−6) and nanosecond level switching time (60 ns), can be successfully optimized. Moreover, a spectroelectrochemical strategy was employed for the first time to investigate the RS mechanism at the molecular level, elucidating the critical role of molecular design in modulating the device's working principles and electrical characteristics. The optimized memristor is capable of accurately emulating the four key behaviors of nociceptors. This achievement not only advances the application of organic materials in neuromorphic devices but also opens up new possibilities for the specialized customization of nociceptors.

Graphical abstract: Unveiling the switching mechanism of robust tetrazine-based memristive nociceptors via a spectroelectrochemical approach

Associated articles

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Edge Article
Submitted
12 Apr 2025
Accepted
03 Jun 2025
First published
03 Jun 2025
This article is Open Access

All publication charges for this article have been paid for by the Royal Society of Chemistry
Creative Commons BY license

Chem. Sci., 2025,16, 12362-12371

Unveiling the switching mechanism of robust tetrazine-based memristive nociceptors via a spectroelectrochemical approach

J. Zhao, K. Liu, W. Zeng, Z. Chen, Y. Zheng, Z. Zhao, W. Zhong, S. Han, G. Ding, Y. Zhou and X. Peng, Chem. Sci., 2025, 16, 12362 DOI: 10.1039/D5SC02710A

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

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