Bulk-heterojunction photocapacitors with high open-circuit voltage for low light intensity photostimulation of neurons. Issue 5 (13th January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Srivastava, Shashi Bhushan; Melikov, Rustamzhon; Yildiz, Erdost; Dikbas, Ugur Meric; Sadeghi, Sadra; Kavakli, Ibrahim Halil; Sahin, Afsun; Nizamoglu, Sedat
• Is Part Of: Journal of materials chemistry. Volume 9:Issue 5(2021)
• Page Start: 1755
• Page End: 1763
• Publication Date: 2021-01-13
• Subjects: Materials -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Analytic -- Periodicals; Optical materials -- Research -- Periodicals; Electronics -- Materials -- Research -- Periodicals; 543.0284
• DOI: 10.1039/d0tc03477k
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2050-7526

Abstract

Abstract : All-optical control of strength and switching speed of neuromodulating currents. Abstract : High-level transduction control of light to bioelectricity is an important goal for the realization of superior neuron-device interfaces that can be used for regulating fundamental cellular processes to cure neurological disorders. In this study, a single-junction, wireless, and capacitive-charge-injecting optoelectronic biointerface with negligible faradaic reactions by using a high open-circuit voltage (0.75 V) bulk heterojunction of PTB7-Th:PC71BM is designed and demonstrated. The biointerface generates a 2-fold higher photocurrent in comparison with P3HT:PC61BM having an open-circuit voltage of 0.55 V. Furthermore, we observed that light intensity is logarithmically correlated with the open-circuit voltage of solar cells, and the photovoltage of the biointerfaces varies the switching speed of capacitive charge-transfer. Finally, pulse trains of capacitive stimuli at a low light intensity of 20 mW cm −2 elicit action potential generation in primary hippocampal neurons extracted from E15–E17 Wistar Albino rats. These findings show the great promise of high open-circuit voltage bulk heterojunction biointerfaces for non-genetic, all-optical and safe modulation of neurons.