Bio‐Inspired Artificial Retinas Based on a Fibrous Inorganic–Organic Heterostructure for Neuromorphic Vision

Abstract

AbstractTo create artificial visual perception systems, artificial retina structures that can imitate the behavior of the biological retina in human vision are of great interest. However, these devices have limited abilities to emulate the structure and working principles of human retinas and the fiber‐shaped structure of optic nerves. Here, a bio‐inspired artificial retina based on a fibrous photonic artificial synapse (FPAS) formed by organic–inorganic heterojunctions on a single fiber is proposed. The two‐terminal structure of the FPAS can emulate the structure and working principle of the human retina, fiber‐shaped optic nerves, and the synaptic functions of optic neurons. The proposed FPAS is operated without external power by modulating the capture and release of photo‐generated carriers and the photo‐gating effect at the barriers formed by organic–inorganic heterojunctions. A bio‐inspired artificial retina structure can be created by aligning an FPAS on a flexible substrate to detect and memorize patterned ultraviolet light distribution for a certain period of time, after which the stored pattern image gradually decays. This artificial bio‐inspired retina device has great potential for use in wearable fiber‐structured neuromorphic visual systems.