The traditional complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology is approaching its physical limit, which calls for the development of emerging memory devices based on new nanomaterials and physics to satisfy the ever-increasing memory requirements of higher densities and performances. More importantly, hardware platforms based on these devices can eliminate the data shuttling between the memory unit and the processing unit, possess high parallelism, and hence have demonstrated significant area- and energy-efficiencies in unconventional computing such as in-memory computing, analog computing, and bio-inspired computing. To date, a wide range of nanomaterial systems have been reported and used in emerging memory devices, demonstrating their great potentials and providing invaluable insights on further performance engineering.

Taking these into consideration, this special issue focuses on novel nanomaterials for emerging memory devices, which may include the developing of new nanomaterial systems, theoretical and experimental studies on the microscopic properties, and underlying physics of these new nanomaterials, as well as the material engineering for better performances when used in unconventional computing and beyond. In addition to research papers, review articles that describe the current state of the art in these fields are also welcomed.

Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:

• New synthesis methods of nanomaterials in emerging memory devices
• Engineering in nanomaterials and nanostructures for emerging memory devices
• 2D materials based emerging memory devices for unconventional computing
• Li-based materials in novel computing devices
• Experimental and theoretical microscopic studies of nanomaterials in emerging memory devices
• Novel electrical and physical characterization tools of emerging memory devices based on nanomaterials
• Design rules of nanomaterials in emerging memory devices by theoretical and computational studies
• Three- or multiterminal devices based on novel nanomaterials for memory and computing purposes