Key Takeaways & Executive Findings
- •• • Photodetector performance: responsivity of 4.7 × 10^4 A/W, specific detectivity of 2.2 × 10^17 Jones, and photosensitivity of 1.5 × 10^8. These metrics exceed most organic photodetectors, enabling high-sensitivity image sensing for neuromorphic vision systems. • • Energy consumption per synaptic spike: 0.021 fJ for a single spike and 0.018 fJ average under two consecutive stimuli. These values are significantly lower than biological synaptic events (≈10 fJ) and most organic artificial synapses, critical for low-power neuromorphic computing. • • Flexible 7 × 7 synaptic array: under mechanical deformation, the array captured and retained a high-contrast 'T'-shaped image immediately after light exposure, with gradual decay emulating biological forgetting. This demonstrates viability for deformable, low-voltage neuromorphic systems. • • Dual-mode operation: gate-voltage-controlled switching between photo-switching (negative bias) and photonic synaptic (positive bias) modes within a single device. This enables logic gate functions (AND, OR) and synaptic plasticity (EPSC, PPF, STP-to-LTP) without additional components, reducing fabrication complexity.
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Abstract
Organic ultrathin crystals, comprising monolayers or a few molecular layers, exhibit outstanding optoelectronic properties and have shown great promise for constructing advanced functional neuromorphic devices. However, scalable growth of high-quality organic ultrathin crystals and their seamless concurrent integration with charge trapping layers for multi-mode neuromorphic devices, that required in future high-density neuromorphic integration, remain challenging. Here, we present a scalable one-step fabrication strategy based on solution shearing, where spontaneous vertical phase separation of a small-molecule/polymer (Ph-BTBT-10/PS) blend enables the simultaneous formation of high-quality ultrathin Ph-BTBT-10 crystals and an electret PS charge-trapping layer. The PS electret layer serves a dual function: it facilitates the formation of ultrathin, highly ordered Ph-BTBT-10 crystals; meanwhile, its gate-tunable electron-trapping capability enables dynamic switching between photo-switching and photo-synaptic modes within a single device. As a photodetector, the device exhibits exceptional performance, including a responsivity of 4.7 × 10^4 A/W, specific detectivity of 2.2 × 10^17 Jones, and photosensitivity of 1.5 × 10^8. Under negative gate bias, light-triggered switching behavior enables logic gate demonstration, while under positive gate modulation, photonic synaptic behavior successfully emulates key biological functions, including excitatory post-synaptic current (EPSC), paired-pulse facilitation (PPF), short-term plasticity (STP) to long-term plasticity (LTP) transition, dynamic learning-forgetting processes, and image processing. Moreover, the system exhibits excellent compatibility with low-voltage flexible substrates and further demonstrates its application in low-consumption flexible neuromorphic devices. This work provides a scalable route toward high-performance, multifunctional neuromorphic optoelectronics based on organic ultrathin crystals, and advances the integration of flexible electronics and brain-inspired computing.
1. Introduction
Artificial neuromorphic electronics offer compact structure, low power consumption, and high storage density by overcoming von Neumann architecture's separation of data transmission and storage. Artificial photoelectric synapses are key for simulating human visual perception, processing, and memory. Conventional approaches rely on discrete photodetectors coupled with synaptic devices, leading to fabrication complexity that impedes scalable integration. Achieving controllable switching between multiple operational modes within a compact footprint is highly demanded for future energy-efficient neuromorphic systems.
Considerable efforts have emulated biological synapses and enabled multimodal functionality using float-gating phototransistors, back-to-back photodiodes, and diverse photocurrent mechanisms with 2D transition metal dichalcogenides and other material systems. However, scalable growth of high-quality organic ultrathin crystals and their seamless integration with charge trapping layers remain challenging. This work presents a one-step solution-shearing strategy where spontaneous vertical phase separation of a Ph-BTBT-10/PS blend simultaneously forms ultrathin crystals and an electret charge-trapping layer, enabling multimode neuromorphic optoelectronics with exceptional performance and flexibility.
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WU Xianshuo, REN Yiwen, ZHANG Yihan, SUN Lingjie, WANG Zhaofeng, HU Suhao, XIE Yidi, DU Yuhan, LI Rongjin, ZHANG Xiaotao, YANG Fangxu (2025). Blended phase separation strategy for seamless integration of ultrathin crystalline channels and charge trapping layers toward multimode neuromorphic optoelectronics. SCIENCE CHINA Materials. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40843-025-3593-5
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the operational mechanism for switching between photo-switching and synaptic modes?
The PS electret layer's gate-tunable electron-trapping capability enables dynamic switching. Under negative gate bias, negligible electron trapping due to electrostatic repulsion ensures stable photo-switching for logic gates. Under positive gate bias, electron trapping in PS triggers a photo-gating effect, inducing robust photonic synaptic responses such as EPSC and PPF.
How does the energy consumption compare to biological synapses and other artificial synapses?
The device achieves 0.021 fJ per single spike and 0.018 fJ average under two consecutive stimuli, significantly lower than biological synaptic events (≈10 fJ) and most organic semiconductor-based artificial synapses (typically >1 fJ), enabling ultra-low-power neuromorphic computing.
What are the key performance metrics as a photodetector?
Responsivity of 4.7 × 10^4 A/W, specific detectivity of 2.2 × 10^17 Jones, and photosensitivity of 1.5 × 10^8. These values are among the highest for organic photodetectors, ensuring high-sensitivity image sensing.
How does the flexible device perform under mechanical deformation?
In a bent state, a 7 × 7 array captured and retained a high-contrast 'T'-shaped image immediately after light exposure, with gradual decay emulating biological forgetting. This demonstrates excellent conformability and potential for deformable neuromorphic systems.
What is the scalability of the fabrication process?
The one-step solution-shearing method enables scalable growth of high-quality ultrathin Ph-BTBT-10 crystals and simultaneous formation of the PS electret layer via spontaneous vertical phase separation, eliminating discrete component integration and reducing fabrication complexity for high-density neuromorphic arrays.
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