Recently, the research team co-led by Professor Shao Jinyou and Sun Bai from the Frontier Institute of Science and Technology and the National Key Laboratory of Precision Micro & Nano Manufacturing Technology at Xi'an Jiaotong University published a review article titled "Brain-like Computing Based on Large-Scale Memristor Crossbar Arrays" in the renowned journal Advanced Functional Materials.

This article offers a comprehensive overview of the latest research advancements in large-scale memristor crossbar arrays, which are based on diverse resistive switching layer materials and are applied in mainstream scenarios. The article highlights that with the swift evolution of the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence, the enormous volume of data generated has set higher benchmarks for computing performance and energy efficiency. Memristors, owing to their structural and functional resemblances to biological synapses and their potential for ultra-high energy efficiency, are considered highly promising core devices in the post-Moore era.

The team delved into an exhaustive analysis encompassing the development history, architectural design, material systems, application scenarios, and commercialization prospects of these arrays. They expounded on classic architectures, including 1R, 1T1R, 1D1R, and 1S1R, along with 3D vertical integration schemes, and scrutinized their respective merits and challenges in terms of suppressing leakage currents and enhancing integration density.

At present, the primary hurdles in large-scale fabrication encompass material process consistency, device performance uniformity, and system integration complexity. The article also puts forth innovative solutions, such as material modification, heterogeneous integration, and algorithm-hardware co-design.

Looking ahead, efficient brain-like computing systems grounded in memristors will facilitate more seamless human-machine interactions. These interactions will span from real-time sensing and online learning in edge devices to high-throughput neural signal processing in brain-machine interfaces. Memristor crossbar arrays will act as a pivotal link connecting artificial intelligence with everyday human life. Their widespread commercialization is imminent, poised to spearhead a revolutionary shift in next-generation computing technologies.