An Artificial Nociceptor Based on an Ovonic Threshold Switching Selector With Nanosecond Response

As artificial intelligence (AI) technology advances, biomimetic functions become crucial for tackling complex tasks and adapting to demanding work settings. Artificial nociceptors are crucial for the progress of humanoid robots. Threshold switching (TS) devices are promising candidates for simulating artificial neurons. In this work, we proposed an artificial nociceptor based on Ovonic TS (OTS) selector devices for the first time. The OTS devices successfully emulate key nociceptor characteristics, including “threshold,” “no adaptation,” “relaxation,” “hyperalgesia,” and “allodynia.” This is primarily due to the structural relaxation dynamics inherent to the chalcogenide material employed in the OTS device. Importantly, the OTS device exhibits a fast-switching speed of 7.8 ns and excellent endurance over$10^{{9}}$cycles, demonstrating an ultrafast response time and an extended service life. The OTS-based artificial nociceptor provides important guidelines for robots operating in high-risk emergency environments.