On-chip Integrated Polarization Photodetector Inspired By Desert Ants
Polarization photodetectors (pol-PDs) are increasingly utilized in fields such as geological remote sensing, machine vision, and biological medicine. Traditional commercial pol-PDs are often based on bulky and intricate optical systems that include lenses, polarizers, and mechanical components, which can be complex and slow to respond.
Chinese researchers, particularly a study by Prof. Li Mingzhu’s group at the Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, have made significant advancements by creating an integrated polarization photodetector on a chip.
The research team drew inspiration from the polarization vision capability of desert ants, which allows them to navigate across barren terrains without visible landmarks by detecting polarized sunlight with their compound eyes. The researchers aimed to replicate this ability in their on-chip integrated polarization photodetector.
To achieve this, Li and her team introduced a one-step nanoimprinting crystallization method. This innovative technique enabled them to create a high-crystalline perovskite, single-crystal thin film featuring quadridirectional grating arrays with high throughput. Utilizing this film, the researchers constructed a single-shot, on-chip pol-PD that operates without the need for any additional polarization optics.
In addition, the nanoimprinting crystallization method offers a novel and universal technique for producing patterned perovskite, single-crystal thin films that exhibit high optoelectronic performance and exceptional light regulation capabilities. This approach enables the use of bio-inspired single-shot polarization photodetectors to create a straightforward, cost-effective, and highly sensitive polarization imaging system.
It also paves the way for the advancement of highly sensitive, miniaturized, on-chip integrated polarization imaging technologies. Polarization imaging provides several benefits, including multi-dimensional detection, high precision, strong contrast, and dehazing effects.
The polarization photodetector has been applied across various fields, such as visual dehazing, visualization of polymer stress, and identifying cancerous regions in tissues.
Journal reference:
- Wenzhong Fang, Chengben Liu, Zixin Zhu, Chao Wu, Qunfeng Cheng, Qian Song, Yang Wang, Xintao Lai, Yanlin Song, Lei Jiang, Mingzhu Li. Bioinspired single-shot polarization photodetector based on four-directional grating arrays capped perovskite single-crystal thin film. Science Advances, 2024; DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adr5375
