journal article·2026-06-26Open access

Molecularly Engineered Wing‐Shaped Azobenzene Memristors for Logic‐in‐Memory and Edge Visual Intelligence

Yanze Liu, Tao Han, Jiahui Ding, Hong Lian, Lingling Yao, Zhaoxin Xu, Xingyu Zhang, Shuanglong Wang, Jiangnan Xia, Tianchi Zhang, Weiwei Kang, Qingchen Dong

Abstract

ABSTRACT Organic molecular resistive memory offers a promising platform to overcome the von Neumann bottleneck. Here, we report four symmetric azobenzene‐based small molecules with diverse terminal substituents (nitroimidazole, imidazole, carbazole, and triphenylamine) for memristive applications. By tuning the terminal groups, the devices exhibit tunable nonvolatile behaviors—ranging from ternary/binary WORM to bipolar nonvolatile resistive memory—all featuring high ON/OFF ratios, low operating voltages, and excellent stability. Mechanistic studies reveal that charge‐transfer‐induced conformational changes govern the twisted intramolecular charge‐transfer states, dictating these distinct memory characteristics. Notably, the Cz‐methylene‐Azo memristor demonstrates continuous conductance tunability and essential synaptic functions (e.g., excitatory postsynaptic current (EPSC), paired‐pulse facilitation (PPF), long‐term potentiation/depression (LTP/D)). Furthermore, it serves as a versatile logic‐in‐memory unit, executing multiple logic gates (OR, AND, XOR, NAND, etc.), the half and full‐adder circuits. Its applicability for in‐memory computing is successfully validated via convolutional neural networks (CNN)‐based image edge detection, highlighting its great potential for next‐generation integrated organic neuromorphic architectures.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Advanced Memory and Neural Computing · Photochromic and Fluorescence Chemistry · Organic Electronics and Photovoltaics

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

MOE Key Laboratory of Advanced Display and System Applications Shanghai University Shanghai P. R. China

School of Mechanical & Electronic Engineering and Automation Shanghai University Shanghai P. R. China

Microelectronics and Optoelectronics Technology Key Laboratory of Hunan Higher Education School of Physics and Electronic Electrical Engineering Xiangnan University Chenzhou P. R. China

Department of Applied Physics The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Hong Kong SAR P. R. China

Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences Tongji Shanxi Hospital Taiyuan P. R. China

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China

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