Novel retina-like optoelectronic sensors based on two-dimensional nanomaterials

Artificial intelligence technology is continuously advancing, with intelligent perception playing a crucial role. While corresponding sensing technologies have made significant progress, the information acquired by sensors from external sources remains insufficient, especially when compared to the human retina’s information-processing capabilities. Additionally, the physical separation of sensing elements and processing units leads to redundant hardware, which is far less integrated than the human sensing systems. Therefore, bionic perceptual systems inspired by human sensory mechanisms hold great potential for advancement. This article provides a brief overview of four retina-like optoelectronic sensors, each utilizing different optoelectronic coupling mechanisms. These sensors mimic the human retina from the perspectives of device structure, energy consumption, integration, and responsiveness. Finally, we discuss the future prospects and advancements of bionic sensing systems based on retinal-like photosensors.