Retina-inspired flexible photosensitive arrays based on selective photothermal conversion

Abstract

Vision is a vital system for human perception of the outside world, and more than 80% of the external information received by humans originates from vision. The curved retina and the visual cells with intrinsic color perception are the essential factors to obtain colorful, stereoscopic, and undistorted images. Recent imaging arrays are mainly based on photoelectric conversion, and their color sensitivity relies on extra spectroscopic systems or filters. Here, we propose an intrinsic color perception based on selective photothermal conversion. Different photosensitive liquids have been designed and served as cone cells or rod cells on the retina, and the flexibility of liquids offers the possibility of achieving the curved structure of the retina. As a proof of concept, we succeed in making a flexible photosensitive array with bionic photopic and scotopic vision.