Organic Photonic Synapses with UV-Vis-NIR Broadband Perception Based on Organic Electrochemical Transistors

Organic photonic synaptic devices have shown immense potential for emulating the visual perception function of the human retina. In particular, organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) with photoresponse ability are considered promising choices because of their advantages in low-voltage operation, mechanical flexibility, and biocompatibility. However, current research is limited, and deeper investigations into the materials, devices, and their perception capability are needed. Herein, we introduce a solid-state organic electrochemical transistor based on an organic bulk heterojunction film, which exhibits a broadband response from ultraviolet to near-infrared (365-850 nm) and can simulate fundamental biological synaptic behaviors across multiple wavelengths. Moreover, the device can emulate the learning, forgetting, and relearning processes, as well as the image recognition and memory functions. By employing a trichromatic perception simulation based on convolutional operations, the device successfully achieves image preprocessing capabilities, demonstrating the promising potential of our OECT-based photonic synapses in artificial visual perception systems.