A new photodetector inspired by plant photosynthesis

Inspired by a photosynthetic complex where plants convert sunlight into energy, the researchers developed a new type of highly efficient photodetector

Stephen Forrest, head of the research group at the University of Michigan, said: "Our device combines the remote transmission of light energy with the remote conversion

The photosynthetic complex found in many plants consists of a large light-absorbing region that transfers molecular excited state energy to a reaction center, where the energy is converted into an electrical charge

To accomplish this seemingly impossible task, the researchers used a unique quasiparticle

"The polarizer combines the molecular excited state and the photon, giving it light- and substance-like properties that allow for remote energy transfer and conversion," Forrest said

Learn from plants

A few years ago, researchers envisioned such a new detector

To create a photodetector based on a polarization excitator, the researchers had to design a structure that would allow the polarized excitator to propagate

Forrest said: "We borrowed from the structure we designed earlier to create efficient organic photovoltaic cells

Long-distance propagation

The researchers analyzed their new device by using a special Fourier plane microscope to observe the propagation of polarizers

The results show that the new photodetector is more efficient

So far, most polarized excitons have been observed as quasiparticles

Forrest said: "Our work shows that in addition to being an interesting science, polarization radicals are also an applied gold mine to be discovered