Human eye-inspired soft optoelectronic device using high-density MoS2-graphene curved image sensor array

• Published in: Nature communications Vol. 8; no. 1; pp. 1 - 11
• Main Authors: Choi, Changsoon, Choi, Moon Kee, Liu, Siyi, Kim, Minsung, Park, Ok Kyu, Im, Changkyun, Kim, Jaemin, Qin, Xiaoliang, Lee, Gil Ju, Cho, Kyoung Won, Kim, Myungbin, Joh, Eehyung, Lee, Jongha, Son, Donghee, Kwon, Seung-Hae, Jeon, Noo Li, Song, Young Min, Lu, Nanshu, Kim, Dae-Hyeong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 21.11.2017; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 639/166/985; 639/301/1005/1007; 639/301/1005/1009; 639/925/357/1018; Animal models; Bioelectricity; Blindness; Density; Digital cameras; Electrical stimuli; Electronic implants; Eye; Eye (anatomy); Finite element method; Graphene; Heterostructures; Humanities and Social Sciences; Image acquisition; Immune response; Infrared detectors; Infrared imagery; Mathematical models; Molybdenum disulfide; multidisciplinary; Nerves; Neural prostheses; Optical communication; Optoelectronic devices; Retina; Rigidity; Science; Sensor arrays; Sensors; Side effects; Stimulation; Transplants & implants
• ISSN: 2041-1723; 2041-1723
• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-01824-6

Soft bioelectronic devices provide new opportunities for next-generation implantable devices owing to their soft mechanical nature that leads to minimal tissue damages and immune responses. However, a soft form of the implantable optoelectronic device for optical sensing and retinal stimulation has not been developed yet because of the bulkiness and rigidity of conventional imaging modules and their composing materials. Here, we describe a high-density and hemispherically curved image sensor array that leverages the atomically thin MoS 2 -graphene heterostructure and strain-releasing device designs. The hemispherically curved image sensor array exhibits infrared blindness and successfully acquires pixelated optical signals. We corroborate the validity of the proposed soft materials and ultrathin device designs through theoretical modeling and finite element analysis. Then, we propose the ultrathin hemispherically curved image sensor array as a promising imaging element in the soft retinal implant. The CurvIS array is applied as a human eye-inspired soft implantable optoelectronic device that can detect optical signals and apply programmed electrical stimulation to optic nerves with minimum mechanical side effects to the retina. Soft and flexible optoelectronic devices may provide effective routes toward retinal implants for enhanced visual functions. Here, the authors fabricate a curved array of flexible MoS 2 -graphene photodetectors and demonstrate its potential application as ophthalmic imaging element in mouse models.