Chemical sensors are hybrid-input memristors

Highlights: • The concept of generalized hybrid-input memristors is proposed. • Chemical gas sensors can be considered as hybrid-input memristors. • The response of a hybrid-input memristor based on a SWCNT sensor is investigated experimentally. Memristors are two-terminal electronic devices whose resistance depends on the history of input signal (voltage or current). Here we demonstrate that the chemical gas sensors can be considered as memristors with a generalized (hybrid) input, namely, with the input consisting of the voltage, analyte concentrations and applied temperature. The concept of hybrid-input memristors is demonstrated experimentally using a single-walled carbon nanotubes chemical sensor. It is shown that with respect to the hybrid input, the sensor exhibits some features common with memristors such as the hysteretic input-output characteristics. This different perspective on chemical gas sensors may open new possibilities for smart sensor applications.