title: Quantum conversion and image detection by a bacteriorhodopsin-based artificial photoreceptor.
abstract: A thin film (50 to 500 angstroms thick) comprising fragments of bacteriorhodopsin (bR)-containing purple membrane was formed on an SnO(2) conductive electrode by the Langmuir-Blodgett method. The film was put into contact with a thin, aqueous electrolyte gel to construct an electrochemical sandwich-type photocell with a junction structure SnO(2)/bR/electrolyte/Au electrode. Under visible light irradiation, the bR-based photocell produced an efficient rectified photocurrent that proved to have unique differential responsivity to light intensity, which is characteristic of in vivo biological photoreceptors. An artificial photoreceptor comprising a pixel network of the bR photocell was fabricated in an attempt to study image-detecting and processing abilities of bR.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miyasaka
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koyama
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Itoh