Biomimetic nanocluster photoreceptors for adaptative circular polarization vision
Wei Wen, Guocai Liu, Xiaofang Wei, Haojie Huang, Chong Wang, Danlei Zhu, Jianzhe Sun, Huijuan Yan, Xin Huang, Wenkang Shi, Xiaojuan Dai, Jichen Dong, Lang Jiang, Yunlong Guo, Hanlin Wang and Yunqi Liu
Nature Communications 15, 2397 (2024)
Nanoclusters with atomically precise structures and discrete energy levels are considered as nanoscale semiconductors for artificial intelligence. However, nanocluster electronic engineering and optoelectronic behavior have remained obscure and unexplored. Hence, we create nanocluster photoreceptors inspired by mantis shrimp visual systems to satisfy the needs of compact but multi-task vision hardware and explore the photo-induced electronic transport. Wafer-scale arrayed photoreceptors are constructed by a nanocluster-conjugated molecule heterostructure. Nanoclusters perform as an in-sensor charge reservoir to tune the conductance levels of artificial photoreceptors by a light valve mechanism. A ligand-assisted charge transfer process takes place at nanocluster interface and it features an integration of spectral-dependent visual adaptation and circular polarization recognition. This approach is further employed for developing concisely structured, multi-task, and compact artificial visual systems and provides valuable guidelines for nanocluster neuromorphic devices.