Considerable research efforts have been directed in recent times to touch sensitive materials inspired by the sensory abilities of human skin, the aim being to develop skin-like synthetic materials for prosthetics and soft robotics. While electronic skin or “e-skin” materials have been developed that can sense temperature, pressure, humidity and strain, no previous electronic skin models have sought to emulate the photo-sensory abilities of human skin.
We develop bio-inspired tactile sensors with photo-sensory and self-powering abilities.
Photosynthetic bioelectronic sensors for tactile sensing
Development of new ultraviolet (UV) detectors has drawn extensive attention in recent times owing to their versatility in applications with scientific, technical, environmental, medical, and military relevance. A particular challenge in the field is the need to develop self-powered UV photodetectors that make use of the broader spectrum to provide the power for UV detection, employ circuitry that is less heavy and more economical, and power associated functions such as wireless data transmission. An attractive route to a self-powering UV detector is through the adaptation of a photovoltaic device for solar energy conversion.
We develop sustainable photodetectors using natural and synthetic organic material. Our recently developed bio-photodetectors composed of photosynthetic proteins with UV-photo-responsive organic-ionic conductors could detect weak UV radiation with intensities as low as 2 microwatts per square centimetre.
Ultra-Low Intensity UV Detection with proteins & UV-enhancer molecules
Work function of a conductive material is the amount of energy required to expel an electron from the material into vacuum. This property plays a crucial role in all semiconductor and optoelectronic devices in achieving a certain desired charge transport scheme.
Every optoelectronic device requires an electrode material of a desired work function. But, the choice of metals in a desired range of work function is rather sparse and limited. We develop material-systems whose work-functions can be optically tuned. With this strategy of optical modulation of work function, any desired value of work function in an electrode can easily be achieved just by tuning the illumination brightness, with a few different metals in hand. This has a very broad applicability in photodetectors, photovoltaics, phototransistors, light emitting diodes and other optoelectronic devices.
