Nearly Panoramic Neuromorphic Vision with Transparent Photosynapses

Neuromorphic vision based on photonic synapses has the ability to mimic sensitivity, adaptivity, and sophistication of bio-visual systems. Significant advances in artificial photosynapses are achieved recently. However, conventional photosyanptic devices normally employ opaque metal conductors and vertical device configuration, performing a limited hemispherical field of view. Here, a transparent planar photonic synapse (TPPS) is presented that offers dual-side photosensitive capability for nearly panoramic neuromorphic vision. The TPPS consisting of all two dimensional (2D) carbon-based derivatives exhibits ultra-broadband photodetecting (365–970 nm) and ≈360° omnidirectional viewing angle. With its intrinsic persistent photoconductivity effect, the detector possesses bio-synaptic behaviors such as short/long-term memory, experience learning, light adaptation, and a 171% pair-pulse-facilitation index, enabling the synapse array to achieve image recognition enhancement (92%) and moving object detection.