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. 2023 Apr 24:20:100642.
doi: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2023.100642. eCollection 2023 Jun.

A biomaterial-silicon junction for photodetection

Narendar Gogurla  1 , Abdul Wahab  1 , Sunghwan Kim  2
Affiliations

A biomaterial-silicon junction for photodetection

Narendar Gogurla et al. Mater Today Bio. .

Abstract

Bio-integrated optoelectronics can be interfaced with biological tissues, thereby offering opportunities for clinical diagnosis and therapy. However, finding a suitable biomaterial-based semiconductor to interface with electronics is still challenging. In this study, a semiconducting layer is assembled comprising a silk protein hydrogel and melanin nanoparticles (NPs). The silk protein hydrogel provides a water-rich environment for the melanin NPs that maximizes their ionic conductivity and bio-friendliness. An efficient photodetector is produced by forming a junction between melanin NP-silk and a p-type Si (p-Si) semiconductor. The observed charge accumulation/transport behavior at the melanin NP-silk/p-Si junction is associated with the ionic conductive state of the melanin NP-silk composite. The melanin NP-silk semiconducting layer is printed as an array on an Si substrate. The photodetector array exhibits uniform photo-response to illumination at various wavelengths, thus providing broadband photodetection. Efficient charge transfer between melanin NP-silk and Si provides fast photo-switching with rise and decay constants of 0.44 ​s and 0.19 ​s, respectively. The photodetector with a biotic interface comprising an Ag nanowire-incorporated silk layer as the top contact can operate when underneath biological tissue. The photo-responsive biomaterial-Si semiconductor junction using light as a stimulus offers a bio-friendly and versatile platform for artificial electronic skin/tissue.

Keywords: Image sensor; Junction; Melanin; Photodetector; Silk hydrogel.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Figures

Image 1
Graphical abstract
Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The 3D printing process for the melanin NP-silk hydrogel/Si photodetector arrays. (A) The device fabrication process including the 3D-printing of an array on Si followed by its attachment to ITO/glass. (B) Optical images of printed structures of melanin NP-silk hydrogel on Si. (C) A schematic of the concept of applying the photodetector array for image sensing. (D) An SEM image of as-prepared melanin NPs. (E) A cross-sectional SEM image of melanin NP-silk/Si layers. The left panel is a magnified view of melanin NPs embedded in a silk layer. (F) Reflectance spectra of p-Si and p-Si/melanin NPs. The inset is a schematic showing light confinement by the melanin NPs. (G) The mechanism involved in generating photocurrent by the device.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Electrical and photodetection properties of the ITO/NP-silk hydrogel/Si photodetector array. I–V characteristics of the photodetector arrays fabricated on (A) n-Si and (B) p-Si. (C) A schematic representation of photodetection measurements using the device. (D) The I–V characteristics of the device containing p-Si at various humidity levels and under dark or 532 ​nm illumination conditions. (E) The transient photocurrent of the device at various humidity levels. (F) Photocurrent contour plots of the device under 532 ​nm light and various humidity levels. (G) The band structure and charge transfer process in the device.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Broadband photodetection by the ITO/NP-silk hydrogel/Si photodetector array. (A) Photocurrent contour plots at various illumination wavelengths and 60% RH, (B) the transient photocurrent at various wavelengths, (C) spectral responsivity, and (D) external quantum efficiency.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Image sensing and lettering photodetection with the ITO/NP-silk hydrogel/Si photodetector. (A) A schematic showing the image-sensing process. (B) Photocurrent contour plots under various humidity levels. (C) A schematic illustrating the process of photo-detecting letters drawn with a laser. (D) A photocurrent contour plot at 60% RH.
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
The skin-attachable biocompatible photodetector for biomedical applications. (A) A schematic representation of building the AgNW-silk membranes for the melanin NP-silk/Si photodetector array and a photograph of the resulting device. (B) An SEM image of the AgNWs impregnated in the silk layer. (C) A transmittance spectrum and a photograph of the AgNW-silk layer. D) I–V characteristics, (E) the transient current, and (F) a photocurrent contour plot of the device under 730 ​nm illumination and 65% RH conditions. (G) A schematic and a photograph of photodetection by the device through pig skin. Photocurrent contour plots for the device under 730 ​nm illumination and 65% RH conditions through pig skin layer thicknesses of (H) 0.62 ​mm and (I) 1.42 ​mm. (J) A photocurrent contour plot for photodetection by the device through folded pig skin under 730 ​nm illumination and 65% RH conditions.
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