The Group
Neuromorphic systems aim at mimicking the brain in the way it processes information, taking advantage of asynchronous, spiking neural networks as well as event-based, adaptative sensors. The Neuromorphic Electronics with Oxides group (NEO), led by Prof. Laura Bégon-Lours, explores materials capable of supporting advanced neuromorphic systems with bio-inspired functionalities.
The first ambition of NEO is to create ferroelectric materials based on hafnium oxide superlattices, which could support the deployment of artificial neural networks in a competitive and sustainable manner.
The second ambition of the group consists of leveraging the ferroelectric polarization and the superlattice materials properties to translate into hardware - bio-inspired sensors, smart interfaces and neuromorphic systems - the biological, neurologic functions consolidating learning.
NEO is a highly interdisciplinary group:
- A substantial part of the work is carried out in the state-of-the-art clean room shared between IBM and ETH Zurich, the Binnig and Rohrer Nanotechnology Center. Here is developed the growth and the nanofabrication of novel devices combining strongly-correlated oxide or textured electrodes, and superlattices composed of ferroelectric and anti-ferroelectric or dielectric layers.
- The materials characterization (texture, the domains size, ferroelectric domains dynamics...) is done in collaboration with the D-MATL and ScopeM.
- The electrical characterization and device operation is carried out in our laboratory located in the ETZ building. The performance of the devices as artificial “synapses” and low-power applications is evaluated.