Bio-inspired spectral adaptive visual devices: A new paradigm for structure-defined functionality

Youyou Bao; Yuhan Zhao; Daixuan Wu; He Tian

doi:10.1088/1674-4926/25080014

J. Semicond. > 2025, Volume 46 > Issue 9 > 090401

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Bio-inspired spectral adaptive visual devices: A new paradigm for structure-defined functionality

Youyou Bao^§, Yuhan Zhao^§, Daixuan Wu and He Tian

+ Author Affiliations

School of Integrated Circuits & Beijing National Research Center for Information Science and Technology (BNRist), Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
^§Youyou Bao and Yuhan Zhao contributed equally to this work and should be considered as co-first authors.

Author Bio:

Youyou Bao obtained his dual B.E. degrees in Mechanical Engineering Technology from Wayne State University and in Mechanical Design, Manufacturing and Automation from Ningbo University of Technology. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Future Manufacturing and Nanoscale Engineering at University College London. His research mainly focuses on bio-inspired engineering design and intelligent manufacturing systems.

Yuhan Zhao obtained his B.E. degree in Electronic and Information Engineering from Hunan University. Subsequently, he joined Professor He Tian’s group at Tsinghua University and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Integrated Circuit Science and Engineering. His research mainly focuses on flexible sensing and neuromorphic perception and computing.

Daixuan Wu, Ph.D. in Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania, previously served as the Chief Engineer at AVIC gyroscope (Xi'an) Optoelectronic Technology Co., Ltd, and is currently a researcher at School of Integrated Circuits, Tsinghua University. She holds positions as a Master's supervisor at Xi'an Jiaotong University and a Ph.D. supervisor at Xiamen University. She has long been engaged in the research of MEMS sensors and low-dimensional materials. Dr. Wu has participated in the design of over 40 different models, covering fields such as aviation, aerospace, weaponry, and naval engineering.

He Tian received his Ph.D. degree from the Institute of Microelectronics, Tsinghua University in 2015. He is currently a Tenured Associate Professor and Deputy Director at Institute of Integrated Electronics, School of Integrated Circuits, Tsinghua University. He is the recipient of the National High-level Leading Talents, National Outstanding Youth Foundation and Highly Cited Scholar in Web of Science 2024. His current research interest includes various 2D material-based devices with more than 250 publications and more than 10 000 times citations.

Corresponding author: Daixuan Wu, xymems@stu.xjtu.edu.cn; He Tian, tianhe88@tsinghua.edu.cn

DOI: 10.1088/1674-4926/25080014CSTR: 32376.14.1674-4926.25080014

References

[1]	Zhao Z T, Yang Q, Li R N, et al. A comprehensive review on the evolution of bio-inspired sensors from aquatic creatures. Cell Rep Phys Sci, 2024, 5(7), 102064 doi: 10.1016/j.xcrp.2024.102064
[2]	Ouyang B S, Wang J L, Zeng G, et al. Bioinspired in-sensor spectral adaptation for perceiving spectrally distinctive features. Nat Electron, 2024, 7, 705 doi: 10.1038/s41928-024-01208-x
[3]	Lv C Z, Zhang F Q, Li C Y, et al. Low-dimensional optoelectronic synaptic devices for neuromorphic vision sensors. Mater Futures, 2023, 2(3), 032301 doi: 10.1088/2752-5724/acda4d
[4]	Chen J W, Zhou Z, Kim B J, et al. Optoelectronic graded neurons for bioinspired in-sensor motion perception. Nat Nanotechnol, 2023, 18(8), 882 doi: 10.1038/s41565-023-01379-2
[5]	Shen L F, Hu L X, Kang F W, et al. Optoelectronic neuromorphic devices and their applications. Acta Phys Sin, 2022, 71(14), 148505 doi: 10.7498/aps.71.20220111
[6]	Zhou Y, Fu J W, Chen Z R, et al. Computational event-driven vision sensors for in-sensor spiking neural networks. Nat Electron, 2023, 6, 870 doi: 10.1038/s41928-023-01055-2
[7]	Xu K, Li Q, Lu Y, et al. Laser direct writing of flexible thermal flow sensors. Nano Letters, 2023, 23(22), 10317 doi: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c02891

Fig. 1. (Color online) Spectral adaptation mechanism of Pacific salmon. (a) Pacific salmon dynamically adjust their visual spectral sensitivity during migration. (b) In turbid streams, salmon adopt redshifted sensitivity to match the redshifted spectral irradiance. (c) In clear seas, salmon shift to blueshifted sensitivity to enhance perception of short-wavelength features^[2].

DownLoad: Full-Size Img PowerPoint

Fig. 2. (Color online) Device structure and bias-controlled spectral adaptation mechanism (a)−(f). (a) Schematic illustration and SEM image of the device structure, consisting of a vertically stacked ITO/TiO₂/Sb₂Se₃/Si/Ag heterojunction. (b) Depth profile of photogenerated electron−hole pair generation under different wavelengths: short-wavelength light is absorbed near the top, while long-wavelength light penetrates deeper into the Si substrate. (c) Under positive bias, the shallow TiO₂/Sb₂Se₃ junction is reverse-biased, favoring visible-light response. (d) Under negative bias, the deep Sb₂Se₃/Si junction is reverse-biased, enabling near-infrared detection. (e) I−V characteristics under different wavelengths, validating the bias-dependent switching behavior. (f) External quantum efficiency (EQE) spectra show a broadband visible response at +2 V and a narrowband near-infrared response at −2 V^[2].

DownLoad: Full-Size Img PowerPoint

[1]	Zhao Z T, Yang Q, Li R N, et al. A comprehensive review on the evolution of bio-inspired sensors from aquatic creatures. Cell Rep Phys Sci, 2024, 5(7), 102064 doi: 10.1016/j.xcrp.2024.102064
[2]	Ouyang B S, Wang J L, Zeng G, et al. Bioinspired in-sensor spectral adaptation for perceiving spectrally distinctive features. Nat Electron, 2024, 7, 705 doi: 10.1038/s41928-024-01208-x
[3]	Lv C Z, Zhang F Q, Li C Y, et al. Low-dimensional optoelectronic synaptic devices for neuromorphic vision sensors. Mater Futures, 2023, 2(3), 032301 doi: 10.1088/2752-5724/acda4d
[4]	Chen J W, Zhou Z, Kim B J, et al. Optoelectronic graded neurons for bioinspired in-sensor motion perception. Nat Nanotechnol, 2023, 18(8), 882 doi: 10.1038/s41565-023-01379-2
[5]	Shen L F, Hu L X, Kang F W, et al. Optoelectronic neuromorphic devices and their applications. Acta Phys Sin, 2022, 71(14), 148505 doi: 10.7498/aps.71.20220111
[6]	Zhou Y, Fu J W, Chen Z R, et al. Computational event-driven vision sensors for in-sensor spiking neural networks. Nat Electron, 2023, 6, 870 doi: 10.1038/s41928-023-01055-2
[7]	Xu K, Li Q, Lu Y, et al. Laser direct writing of flexible thermal flow sensors. Nano Letters, 2023, 23(22), 10317 doi: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c02891