An n-type organic synaptic transistor with dopant-sensitive plasticity enables sensory-adaptive robotics

Sensory intelligence of biological depends on the activity of synapses, which promotes enormous research on artificial synapses and bio-inspired sensory systems. Here, we propose a strategy of increasing channel permeability with doping concentration to demonstrate for the first time the application of n-type organic synaptic transistors (OSTs) in neuromorphic sensory robotic system. The threshold voltage and operating current of the OST are dominated by the concentration of N-DMBI molecular to implement tunable and reliable plasticity. As a result, the N-DMBI-doped OST exhibits essential synaptic functions and persistent memory as the dopant increases within a certain range (≤7 wt%). We construct a neuromorphic sensory robotic system with sensorimotor functionality by combining the n-type OST with a flexible tactile sensor and a dexterous manipulator. The robotic system demonstrates sensory memory and adaption in response to tactile stimuli. We believe this work provides a novel resource for the development of advanced sensory-intelligence systems that have neuronal properties.