Dual-Mode Photodetection and Neuromorphic Memory with PTCDI-C8/C8-BTBT Organic Heterojunctions

Abstract Merging optoelectronic sensing with synaptic emulation is critical for the progression of artificial intelligence. Herein, we report a bias-configurable dual-mode optoelectronic device engineered from a PTCDI-C8/C8-BTBT organic heterojunction, enabling a reversible transition between photodetection and optoelectronic synaptic memory. Under zero source-drain bias operation, the device functions as a high-performance photodetector, exhibiting a responsivity of 3.0 mA W–1 and a specific detectivity of 7.97 × 1011 Jones, thereby facilitating advanced multiwavelength imaging and optical communication applications. Alternatively, in the synaptic mode, the device exhibits a gate-tunable bipolar photoresponse that successfully emulates excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic currents. Consequently, this work presents a viable pathway for integrating photodetection and memory capabilities within organic optoelectronic frameworks.