“This work is the first step towards our ultimate destination-to create a micro-scale camera to microrobots,” Sidong Lei assistant professor of Physics, who led this research. “We demonstrate the principle and feasibility of this new type image sensor, with an emphasis on miniaturization.
Lei’s team used Nanotechnology to create the foundation for the biomimetic artificial sight device. This device uses synthetic methods to imitate biochemical processes.
He says, “It is well known that vision captures more than 80 percent information in research, industry and medication, as well as our everyday life.” Our ultimate goal is to create a micro-scale camera that microrobots can use to enter small spaces that are not possible with current methods. This will allow us to open new horizons in medicine, environmental studies, manufacturing, archaeology and many other areas.
This biomimetic “electric eyes” improves color recognition. Unfortunately, it is difficult to downscale the existing color sensing devices. Conventional color sensors use a lateral layout for color sensing channels, which takes up a lot of space and provides less accurate color detection.
Researchers created the stacking technique that is a new approach to hardware design. He says the van der Waals semiconductor-empowered vertical color sensing structure offers precise color recognition capability which can simplify the design of the optical lens system for the downscaling of the artificial vision systems.
Ningxin Li, a graduate students in Dr. Lei’s Functional Materials Studio, was part of the research team. She says that recent technological advances make it possible to create a new design.
Li says that the van der Waals semiconductors’ rapid development over the past few years is what has enabled us to achieve new functionality in our image sensor architecture. “Compared to conventional semiconductors like silicon, we can control the van der Waals materials band structure, thickness and other critical parameters that allow us to sense the red and green colors.”
A new class of materials has emerged: the van der Waals semiconductors enabled vertical color sensor (vdW–Ss). In which individual atomic layer are bonded by weak van der Waals force, they represent van der Waals semiconductors. They are a prominent platform for discovering new physics, and developing next-generation devices.
“The new semiconductor materials are extremely thin, flexible, and chemically stable, which allows us to stack them in any order we like. We are actually using a three-dimensional integration strategy to replace the existing planar micro-electronics layout. Li explains that our device architecture is able to accelerate downscaling cameras because of its higher integration density.
Georgia State’s Office of Technology Transfer & Commercialization is currently patenting the technology. OTTC expects that this new design will be highly sought after by certain industry partners. Cliff Michaels, Director of OTTC, states that this technology could overcome many of the major drawbacks with current sensors. These highly sensitive, small-sized color sensors will prove to be extremely useful as nanotechnology improves and devices become smaller.
Researchers believe that the discovery could lead to breakthroughs in the field of vision aids.
Li says that this technology is essential for the development biomimetic electronic eye and other neuromorphic prosthetic device. High-quality color sensing technology and image recognition function could open up new opportunities for visually impaired people to perceive colorful items in the future.
Lei said that his team will continue to push these advanced technologies forward using the knowledge they have gained from this discovery.
Although this is a significant step forward, there are still many scientific and technical challenges ahead. He says that commercial image sensors can combine millions of pixels to produce high-definition images. However, this technology has not yet been implemented in the prototype. The entire research society must overcome this large-scale van der Waals semiconductor integration challenge. This is where our team will be working with national collaborators.