A minireview on 2D materials-enabled optoelectronic artificial synaptic devices

Two-dimensional (2D) layered materials exhibit many unique properties, such as near-atomic thickness, electrical tunability, optical tunability, and mechanical deformability, which are characteristically distinct from conventional materials. They are particularly promising for next-generation biologically inspired optoelectronic artificial synapses, offering unprecedented opportunities beyond the current complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor-based computing device technologies. This Research update article introduces the recent exploration of various 2D materials for optoelectronic artificial synapses, such as graphene, transition metal dichalcogenides, black phosphorous, hexagonal boron nitride, MXenes, and metal oxides. Material property suitability and advantages of these 2D materials in implementing optoelectronic artificial synapses are discussed in detail. In addition, recent progress demonstrating 2D materials-enabled optoelectronic artificial synaptic devices is reviewed along with their device operation principles. Finally, pending challenges and forward-looking outlooks on this emerging research area are suggested.