Printed Neurons That Mimic Brain Cells Could Slash AI’s Energy Bill

Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a novel fabrication technique using jet-printed electronic ink — containing molybdenum disulfide and graphene — to create artificial neurons that replicate the complex, heterogeneous spiking patterns of biological neurons. Unlike conventional neuromorphic chips with uniform artificial neurons, these printed devices produce diverse firing patterns (isolated spikes, sustained firing, rhythmic bursts) by intentionally leaving behind a partially decomposed polymer that creates irregular conductive pathways. The artificial neurons successfully stimulated living mouse cerebellum tissue, demonstrating biologically compatible signal timing and shape. The research, published in Nature Nanotechnology, aims to lay groundwork for far more energy-efficient AI hardware by mimicking the brain's efficient, heterogeneous processing rather than relying on billions of identical silicon transistors.