A neuromorphic bionic eye with broadband vision and biocompatibility using TIPS-pentacene-based phototransistor array retina

Abstract

<p>Taking inspiration from the human eye's information processing capabilities, the artificial <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/materials-science/optoelectronics" title="Learn more about optoelectronic from ScienceDirect's AI-generated Topic Pages">optoelectronic</a> neuronic device (AOEND) offers a promising approach to creating a bionic eye that performs real-time, low-power processing by integrating <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/materials-science/optical-sensor" title="Learn more about optical sensors from ScienceDirect's AI-generated Topic Pages">optical sensors</a>, signal processing, and electronic neurons into a single device. Despite significant advancements, the current AOEND still faces challenges in terms of power consumption, flexibility, bio-compatibility, and, most importantly, achieving photo-sensitivity across the same broadband perceivable wavelength range (380nm to 740nm) as the human eye. In this study, we present a commercially ready, dual-gated thin-film-transistor (TFT)-based AOEND. Our device exhibits exceptional photo-response to specific wavelengths by utilizing an organic TIPS-pentacene material as the channel layer and intentionally tailoring its optical bandgap to approximately 1.6eV. Additionally, the device successfully replicates various photon-triggered synaptic characteristics and performs visual sensing, memory processing, and other functions with low power consumption. Our findings present a viable strategy for the development of future integrated sensing-memory-processing flexible devices for <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/materials-science/optoelectronics" title="Learn more about optoelectronic from ScienceDirect's AI-generated Topic Pages">optoelectronic</a> artificial retina perception applications.<br></p>