Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

Curvy, shape-adaptive imagers based on printed optoelectronic pixels with a kirigami design

Nature Electronics volume 4, pages 513–521 (2021)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Curvy imagers that can adjust their shape are of use in imaging applications that require low optical aberration and tunable focusing power. Existing curvy imagers are either flexible but not compatible with tunable focal surfaces, or stretchable but with low resolution and pixel fill factors. Here, we show that curvy and shape-adaptive imagers with high pixel fill factors can be created by transferring an array of ultrathin silicon optoelectronic pixels with a kirigami design onto curvy surfaces using conformal additive stamp printing. An imager with a 32 × 32-pixel array exhibits a fill factor, before stretching, of 78% and can maintain its electrical performance under 30% biaxial strain. We also develop an adaptive imager that can achieve focused views of objects at different distances by combining a concave-shaped imager printed on a magnetic rubber composite with a tunable lens. Adaptive optical focus is achieved by tuning both the focal length of the lens and the curvature of the imager, allowing far and near objects to be imaged with low aberration.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Relevant articles

Open Access articles citing this article.

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Get just this article for as long as you need it

$39.95

Learn more

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Fig. 1: Stretchable kirigami structure and CAS printing.
Fig. 2: Kirigami optoelectronic pixel array.
Fig. 3: Stretched kirigami imager.
Fig. 4: Convex and concave imagers.
Fig. 5: Human-eyeball-inspired adaptive imager.

Data availability

The data that support the plots within this paper and other findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Code availability

Custom code used to process the data is available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

References

  1. Song, Y. M. et al. Digital cameras with designs inspired by the arthropod eye. Nature 497, 95–99 (2013).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Ko, H. C. et al. A hemispherical electronic eye camera based on compressible silicon optoelectronics. Nature 454, 748–753 (2008).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Kim, M. S. et al. An aquatic-vision-inspired camera based on a monocentric lens and a silicon nanorod photodiode array. Nat. Electron. 3, 546–553 (2020).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Floreano, D. et al. Miniature curved artificial compound eyes. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 110, 9267–9272 (2013).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Gu, L. et al. A biomimetic eye with a hemispherical perovskite nanowire array retina. Nature 581, 278–282 (2020).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Zhang, K. et al. Origami silicon optoelectronics for hemispherical electronic eye systems. Nat. Commun. 8, 1782 (2017).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Wu, T. et al. Design and fabrication of silicon-tessellated structures for monocentric imagers. Microsyst. Nanoeng. 2, 16019 (2016).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Guenter, B. et al. Highly curved image sensors: a practical approach for improved optical performance. Opt. Express 25, 13010–13023 (2017).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Fan, D., Lee, B., Coburn, C. & Forrest, S. R. From 2D to 3D: strain- and elongation-free topological transformations of optoelectronic circuits. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 116, 3968–3973 (2019).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Sim, K. et al. Three-dimensional curvy electronics created using conformal additive stamp printing. Nat. Electron. 2, 471–479 (2019).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Jung, I. et al. Dynamically tunable hemispherical electronic eye camera system with adjustable zoom capability. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 108, 1788–1793 (2011).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Lee, W. et al. Two-dimensional materials in functional three-dimensional architectures with applications in photodetection and imaging. Nat. Commun. 9, 1417 (2018).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Guan, Y.-S., Zhang, Z., Tang, Y., Yin, J. & Ren, S. Kirigami-inspired nanoconfined polymer conducting nanosheets with 2,000% stretchability. Adv. Mater. 30, 1706390 (2018).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Blees, M. K. et al. Graphene kirigami. Nature 524, 204–207 (2015).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Choi, G. P. T., Dudte, L. H. & Mahadevan, L. Programming shape using kirigami tessellations. Nat. Mater. 18, 999–1004 (2019).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Cho, Y. et al. Engineering the shape and structure of materials by fractal cut. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 111, 17390–17395 (2014).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Zhang, Y. et al. A mechanically driven form of kirigami as a route to 3D mesostructures in micro/nanomembranes. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 112, 11757–11764 (2015).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Wang, C., Wang, C., Huang, Z. & Xu, S. Materials and structures toward soft electronics. Adv. Mater. 30, 1801368 (2018).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Kim, D.-H. et al. Epidermal electronics. Science 333, 838 (2011).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Kim, D. H. et al. Materials and noncoplanar mesh designs for integrated circuits with linear elastic responses to extreme mechanical deformations. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 105, 18675–18680 (2008).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Shin, G. et al. Micromechanics and advanced designs for curved photodetector arrays in hemispherical electronic-eye cameras. Small 6, 851–856 (2010).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Tang, Y. et al. Design of hierarchically cut hinges for highly stretchable and reconfigurable metamaterials with enhanced strength. Adv. Mater. 27, 7181–7190 (2015).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Huang, Y. et al. Assembly and applications of 3D conformal electronics on curvilinear surfaces. Mater. Horiz. 6, 642–683 (2019).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Xu, S. et al. Assembly of micro/nanomaterials into complex, three-dimensional architectures by compressive buckling. Science 347, 154–159 (2015).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Sun, Y., Choi, W. M., Jiang, H., Huang, Y. Y. & Rogers, J. A. Controlled buckling of semiconductor nanoribbons for stretchable electronics. Nat. Nanotechnol. 1, 201–207 (2006).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Duffy, D. C., McDonald, J. C., Schueller, O. J. A. & Whitesides, G. M. Rapid prototyping of microfluidic systems in poly(dimethylsiloxane). Anal. Chem. 70, 4974–4984 (1998).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Yu, C. J. et al. Adaptive optoelectronic camouflage systems with designs inspired by cephalopod skins. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 111, 12998–13003 (2014).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Wu, Y.-L. et al. Low-power monolithically stacked organic photodiode-blocking diode imager by turn-on voltage engineering. Adv. Electron. Mater. 4, 1800311 (2018).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Lee, W. et al. High-resolution spin-on-patterning of perovskite thin films for a multiplexed image sensor array. Adv. Mater. 29, 1702902 (2017).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Kim, M. S., Lee, G. J., Kim, H. M. & Song, Y. M. Parametric optimization of lateral NIPIN phototransistors for flexible image sensors. Sensors 17, 1774 (2017).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Rim, S.-B., Catrysse, P. B., Dinyari, R., Huang, K. & Peumans, P. The optical advantages of curved focal plane arrays. Opt. Express 16, 4965–4971 (2008).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Swain, P. & Mark, D. Curved CCD detector devices and arrays for multispectral astrophysical applications and terrestrial stereo panoramic cameras. Proc. SPIE https://doi.org/10.1117/12.554840 (2004).

  33. Jung, I., Shin, G., Malyarchuk, V., Ha, J. S. & Rogers, J. A. Paraboloid electronic eye cameras using deformable arrays of photodetectors in hexagonal mesh layouts. Appl. Phys. Lett. 96, 021110 (2010).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Lee, G. J., Nam, W. I. & Song, Y. M. Robustness of an artificially tailored fisheye imaging system with a curvilinear image surface. Opt. Laser Technol. 96, 50–57 (2017).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Dinyari, R., Rim, S.-B., Huang, K., Catrysse, P. B. & Peumans, P. Curving monolithic silicon for nonplanar focal plane array applications. Appl. Phys. Lett. 92, 091114 (2008).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Huang, C.-C. et al. Large-field-of-view wide-spectrum artificial reflecting superposition compound eyes. Small 10, 3050–3057 (2014).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Lee, G. J., Choi, C., Kim, D.-H. & Song, Y. M. Bioinspired artificial eyes: optic components, digital cameras and visual prostheses. Adv. Funct. Mater. 28, 1705202 (2018).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Sim, K. et al. Fully rubbery integrated electronics from high effective mobility intrinsically stretchable semiconductors. Sci. Adv. 5, eaav5749 (2019).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Koretz, J. F., Cook, C. A. & Kaufman, P. L. Aging of the human lens: changes in lens shape upon accommodation and with accommodative loss. J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 19, 144–151 (2002).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Lopez-Gil, N. & Fernandez-Sanchez, V. The change of spherical aberration during accommodation and its effect on the accommodation response. J. Vis. 10, 12 (2010).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Fisher, R. F. The force of contraction of the human ciliary muscle during accommodation. J. Physiol. 270, 51–74 (1977).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Li, L., Wang, Q.-H. & Jiang, W. Liquid lens with double tunable surfaces for large power tunability and improved optical performance. J. Opt. 13, 115503 (2011).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Lukman, S. et al. High oscillator strength interlayer excitons in two-dimensional heterostructures for mid-infrared photodetection. Nat. Nanotechnol. 15, 675–682 (2020).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Xie, B. et al. Self-filtering narrowband high performance organic photodetectors enabled by manipulating localized Frenkel exciton dissociation. Nat. Commun. 11, 2871 (2020).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Hollins, M. Does the central human retina stretch during accommodation? Nature 251, 729–730 (1974).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Fan, S. et al. Accommodation-induced variations in retinal thickness measured by spectral domain optical coherence tomography. J. Biomed. Opt. 19, 1–8 (2014).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Lee, H. et al. An endoscope with integrated transparent bioelectronics and theranostic nanoparticles for colon cancer treatment. Nat. Commun. 6, 10059 (2015).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Choi, C. et al. Human eye-inspired soft optoelectronic device using high-density MoS2–graphene curved image sensor array. Nat. Commun. 8, 1664 (2017).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Liu, H., Huang, Y. & Jiang, H. Artificial eye for scotopic vision with bioinspired all-optical photosensitivity enhancer. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 113, 3982–3985 (2016).

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We acknowledge D. Mayerich for providing assistance with Zemax simulations, as well as the Nanofabrication Facility at the University of Houston for device fabrication. C.Y. acknowledges funding support by the National Science Foundation (ECCS-1509763 and CMMI-1554499).

Author information

Author notes

  1. These authors contributed equally: Zhoulyu Rao, Yuntao Lu.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA

    Zhoulyu Rao, Yuntao Lu & Cunjiang Yu

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA

    Zhengwei Li & Jianliang Xiao

  3. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA

    Kyoseung Sim & Cunjiang Yu

  4. Department of Chemistry, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Ulsan, Republic of Korea

    Kyoseung Sim

  5. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI, USA

    Zhenqiang Ma

  6. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas Center for Superconductivity, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA

    Cunjiang Yu

Authors
  1. Zhoulyu Rao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yuntao Lu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Zhengwei Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Kyoseung Sim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Zhenqiang Ma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Jianliang Xiao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Cunjiang Yu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

C.Y. and Z.R. conceived the concept and designed the work. Z.R., Y.L. and K.S. performed the experiment. Z.R., Z.L., J.X. and C.Y. performed numerical analysis. Z.R., Y.L. and C.Y. analysed the experimental data. Z.R., Y.L., Z.L., J.X. and C.Y. wrote the manuscript. All authors commented on and revised the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Cunjiang Yu.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Peer review information Nature Electronics thanks the anonymous reviewers for their contribution to the peer review of this work.

Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary information

Supplementary Information

Supplementary Note, Table 1, references and Figs. 1–31.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Rao, Z., Lu, Y., Li, Z. et al. Curvy, shape-adaptive imagers based on printed optoelectronic pixels with a kirigami design. Nat Electron 4, 513–521 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41928-021-00600-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41928-021-00600-1

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing