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Synergistic Pyroelectric-Bolometric Coupling in Tellurene Nanowire for Energy-Efficient Artificial Vision
Thi Uyen Tran1, Ngoc Thanh Duong2, Ngoc Linh Nguyen2
1SKKU Advanced Institute of Nanotechnology (SAINT), Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, South Korea.
Small (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)
|May 10, 2026
Summary
Tellurene nanowires enable efficient thermal-energy harvesting and self-driven neuromorphic computing. Edge-induced symmetry breaking in these nanowires creates robust pyroelectric polarization, enhancing energy conversion and artificial vision systems.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Energy Harvesting
Background:
- Efficient thermal-energy harvesting is crucial for sustainable energy solutions.
- Low-dimensional materials face challenges in stable thermal-electrical conversion.
- Few-layer Tellurene (Te) shows limited pyroelectricity due to symmetry constraints.
Purpose of the Study:
- To overcome limitations of few-layer Tellurene for practical pyroelectric applications.
- To explore edge-induced symmetry breaking in Tellurene nanowires (Te NWs).
- To investigate synergistic pyroelectric-bolometric coupling for enhanced photocurrent.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication and characterization of Tellurene nanowires (Te NWs).
- Photothermal excitation to induce and measure pyroelectric and bolometric effects.
- Development of a Te NW-based artificial vision system for neuromorphic computing.
Main Results:
- Te NWs exhibit robust, persistent pyroelectric polarization via edge-induced symmetry breaking.
- Synergistic pyroelectric-bolometric coupling enhances thermally driven photocurrent.
- A self-driven neuromorphic system demonstrates 97% digit recognition accuracy.
Conclusions:
- Te NWs offer a promising platform for efficient thermal-energy harvesting.
- The material enables self-stimulated, energy-efficient neuromorphic functionality.
- Te NWs bridge thermal energy, bioinspired sensing, and neuromorphic computing.
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