Low-frequency noise in nanoparticle–molecule networks and implications for in materio reservoir computing

We studied the low-frequency noise, i.e. flicker noise, also referred to as 1/f noise, in 2D networks of molecularly functionalized gold nanoparticles (NMN: nanoparticle-molecule network). We examined the noise behaviors of the NMN hosting alkyl chains (octanethiol), fatty acid oleic acids (oleylamine), redox molecule switches (polyoxometalate derivatives) or photo-isomerizable molecules (azobenzene derivatives) and we compared their 1/f noise behaviors. These noise metrics are used to evaluate which molecules are the best candidates to build in materio reservoir computing molecular devices based on the NMNs.