Recent Advances in Optoelectronic Synaptic Devices for Neuromorphic Computing

We explore recent advancements in optoelectronic synaptic devices across four key aspects: mechanisms, materials, synaptic properties, and applications. First, we discuss fundamental working principles, including oxygen vacancy ionization, defect trapping, and heterojunction-based charge modulation, which contribute to synaptic plasticity. Next, we examine the role of 0D, 1D, and 2D materials in optimizing device performance, focusing on their unique electronic, optical, and mechanical properties. We then analyze synaptic properties such as excitatory post-synaptic current (EPSC), visual adaptation, transition from short-term to long-term plasticity (STP to LTP), nociceptor-inspired responses, and associative learning mechanisms. Finally, we highlight real-world applications, including artificial vision systems, reservoir computing for temporal data processing, adaptive neuromorphic computing for exoplanet detection, and colored image recognition. By consolidating recent developments, this paper provides insights into the potential of optoelectronic synaptic devices for next-generation computing architectures, bridging the gap between optics and neuromorphic engineering.