Electroformed, Self-Connected Tin Oxide Nanoparticle Networks for Electronic Reservoir Computing

Interconnected SnOx nanoparticle (NP) networks are electroformed within a semi-insulating SnOx thin-film and between lateral electrodes. During this top-down process, Joule heating, disproportionation, and de-wetting of the SnOx thin-film precede the formation of the NP networks. The same lateral electrodes used for electroforming are used to probe the network and reveal its complex electrical characteristics. Higher-order harmonic generation is observed and the internal short-term memory effects of the NP networks enable temporal inputs to be mapped into reservoir states for subsequent linear readout without training. Reservoir computing functionality is demonstrated with no requirement for high-vacuum or cryo-cooled environments.