Formation of magnetic nanowire arrays by cooperative lateral growth

Self-assembled 3D Interconnected Magnetic Nanowire Networks for Neuromorphic Computing

Three-dimensional (3D) nanomagnetic systems offer promise toward implementing neuromorphic computing due to their intricate spin textures, magnetization dynamics, and nontrivial topology. However, the investigation of 3D nanomagnetic systems is often constrained by demanding fabrication and characterization requirements. Here, we present interconnected networks of self-assembled magnetic nanowires (NW) as a novel 3D platform with attractive characteristics for neuromorphic computing. The networks contain multiple unique transport pathways, each hosting discrete magnetization states. These pathways can be selectively addressed, and the magnetic state within them can be electrically controlled by applying current pulses. Consequently, the pathways can serve as synaptic weights, allowing for diverse programming by switching specific sections of the network using current pulses of varying magnitudes and durations. Additionally, unique features such as history-dependent magnetic state switching and interconnected transport paths are observed in these networks. These capabilities are leveraged to illustrate the potential of interconnected magnetic NW networks as reservoir layers in a neural network architecture, highlighting their promise as an efficient platform for neuromorphic computing.

Rational Electrochemical Design of Cuprous Oxide Hierarchical Microarchitectures and Their Derivatives for SERS Sensing Applications

Rational morphology control of inorganic microarchitectures is important in diverse fields, requiring precise regulation of nucleation and growth processes. While wet chemical methods have achieved success regarding the shape-controlled synthesis of micro/nanostructures, accurately controlling the growth behavior in real time remains challenging. Comparatively, the electrodeposition technique can immediately control the growth behavior by tuning the overpotential, whereas it is rarely used to design complex microarchitectures. Here, the electrochemical design of complex Cu2O microarchitectures step-by-step by precisely controlling the growth behavior is demonstrated. The growth modes can be switched between the thermodynamic and kinetic modes by varying the overpotential. Cl- ions preferably adhered to {100} facets to modulate growth rates of these facets is proved. The discovered growth modes to prepare Cu2O microarchitectures composed of multiple building units inaccessible with existing methods are employed. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) additives can guarantee all pre-electrodeposits simultaneously evolve into uniform microarchitectures, instead of forming undesired microstructures on bare electrode surfaces in following electrodeposition processes is discovered. The designed Cu2O microarchitectures can be converted into noble metal microstructures with shapes unchanged, which can be used as surface-enhanced Raman scattering substrates. An electrochemical avenue toward rational design of complex inorganic microarchitectures is opened up.