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Updated: May 28, 2025

Fabrication of Flexible Image Sensor Based on Lateral NIPIN Phototransistors
Published on: June 23, 2018
A Self-Powered Organic Vision Sensor Array for Photopic Adaptation
Yannan Dai1,2,3, Shenglan Hao1,2,3, Guangdi Feng1,2,3
1Key Laboratory of Polar Materials and Devices, Ministry of Education, Department of Electronics, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China.
Abstract:
With the rapid development of artificial intelligence, it is essential to develop a bionic vision sensor that boasts low power consumption, self-adaptability, and broadband sensing for efficient image preprocessing. We employed an organic p-type semiconductor, poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT), in conjunction with an Al electrode to engineer a Schottky junction. This design leverages the photogating effect due to the charge trapping by defects at the P3HT/Al interface, endowing this self-powered, two-terminal device with photopic adaptability. The 1.9 eV bandgap of P3HT enables substantial light absorption within the visible spectrum, yielding a significant photocurrent. By assembling 50 photoelectric sensors into a 10 × 5 array, we successfully demonstrated an image formation process that emulates photopic adaptation, specifically in recognizing letters. This easily fabricated, self-powered retinomorphic photoelectric device has great potential to mimic retinal structures, thereby heralding a new frontier in visual sensory devices.
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