The distributed network of receptors, neurons, and synapses in the somatosensory system efficiently processes complex tactile information. We used flexible organic electronics to mimic the functions of a sensory nerve. Our artificial afferent nerve collects pressure information (1 to 80 kilopascals) from clusters of pressure sensors, converts the pressure information into action potentials (0 to 100 hertz) by using ring oscillators, and integrates the action potentials from multiple ring oscillators with a synaptic transistor. Biomimetic hierarchical structures can detect movement of an object, combine simultaneous pressure inputs, and distinguish braille characters. Furthermore, we connected our artificial afferent nerve to motor nerves to construct a hybrid bioelectronic reflex arc to actuate muscles. Our system has potential applications in neurorobotics and neuroprosthetics.

Efficient quasi-2D-structure perovskite light-emitting diodes (4.90 cd A(-1) ) are demonstrated by mixing a 3D-structured perovskite material (methyl ammonium lead bromide) and a 2D-structured perovskite material (phenylethyl ammonium lead bromide), which can be ascribed to better film uniformity, enhanced exciton confinement, and reduced trap density.

We developed a stretchable organic optoelectronic sensorimotor synapse to mimic a biological optical sensory nervous system.

No abstract

Researchers report an organic nanowire artificial synapse that emulates working principles and energy consumption of biological synapses.

Organometal halide perovskites are promising photo-absorption materials in solar cells due to high extinction coefficient, broad light absorption range and excellent semiconducting properties. The highest power conversion efficiency (PCE) of perovskite solar cells (PrSCs) is now 20.1%. However, a high-temperature processed mesoscopic metal oxide (e.g., TiO 2 ) must be removed to realize flexible PrSCs on plastic substrates using low temperature processes. Although the planar heterojunction (PHJ) structure can be considered as the most appropriate structure for flexible PrSCs, they have shown lower PCEs than those with a mesoscopic metal oxide layer. Therefore, development of interfacial layers is essential for achieving highly efficient PHJ PrSCs, and necessary in fabrication of flexible PrSCs. This review article gives an overview of progress in PHJ PrSCs and the roles of interfacial layers in the device, and suggests a practical strategy to fabricate highly efficient and flexible PHJ PrSCs. We conclude with our technical suggestion and outlook for further research direction.

Flexible neuromorphic electronics that emulate biological neuronal systems constitute a promising candidate for next‐generation wearable computing, soft robotics, and neuroprosthetics. For realization, with the achievement of simple synaptic behaviors in a single device, the construction of artificial synapses with various functions of sensing and responding and integrated systems to mimic complicated computing, sensing, and responding in biological systems is a prerequisite. Artificial synapses that have learning ability can perceive and react to events in the real world; these abilities expand the neuromorphic applications toward health monitoring and cybernetic devices in the future Internet of Things. To demonstrate the flexible neuromorphic systems successfully, it is essential to develop artificial synapses and nerves replicating the functionalities of the biological counterparts and satisfying the requirements for constructing the elements and the integrated systems such as flexibility, low power consumption, high‐density integration, and biocompatibility. Here, the progress of flexible neuromorphic electronics is addressed, from basic backgrounds including synaptic characteristics, device structures, and mechanisms of artificial synapses and nerves, to applications for computing, soft robotics, and neuroprosthetics. Finally, future research directions toward wearable artificial neuromorphic systems are suggested for this emerging area.

A self-organized hole extraction layer (SOHEL) with high work function (WF) is designed for energy level alignment with the ionization potential level of CH3 NH3 PbI3 . The SOHEL increases the built-in potential, photocurrent, and power conversion efficiency (PCE) of CH3 NH3 PbI3 perovskite solar cells. Thus, interface engineering of the positive electrode of solution-processed planar heterojunction solar cells using a high-WF SOHEL is a very effective way to achieve high device efficiency (PCE = 11.7% on glass).