Visual Sensor with Host–Guest Specific Recognition and Light–Electrical Co‐Controlled Switch

Abstract

Perception of UV radiation has important applications in medical health, industrial production, electronic communication, etc. In numerous application scenarios, there is an increasing demand for the intuitive and low‐cost detection of UV radiation through colorimetric visual behavior, as well as the efficient and multi‐functional utilization of UV radiation. However, photodetectors based on photoconductive modes or photosensitive colorimetric materials are not conducive to portable or multi‐scene applications owing to their complex and expensive photosensitive components, potential photobleaching, and single‐stimulus response behavior. Here, a multifunctional visual sensor based on the “host–guest photo‐controlled permutation” strategy and the “lock and key” model is developed. The host–guest specific molecular recognition and electrochromic sensing platform is integrated at the micro‐molecular scale, enabling multi‐functional and multi‐scene applications in the convenient and fast perception of UV radiation, military camouflage, and information erasure at the macro level of human–computer interaction through light–electrical co‐controlled visual switching characteristics. This light–electrical co‐controlled visual sensor based on an optoelectronic multi‐mode sensing system is expected to provide new ideas and paradigms for healthcare, microelectronics manufacturing, and wearable electronic devices owing to its advantages of signal visualization, low energy consumption, low cost, and versatility.