Flexible photosensors based on photothermal conversion

The perception of light is crucial for humans to explore the external world. However, challenges of current planar photosensors include inherent limitations in depth of field and field of view. Flexible electronic devices offer a solution to this issue by allowing adaptation to curved surfaces, ensuring stable interfaces and excellent signal quality. Compared to photoelectric sensors, flexible photosensors based on photothermal conversion can respond to a wider spectrum of light, simplify design processes, and overcome issues such as instability and high toxicity. The review introduces progress on the flexible photosensors based on photothermal conversion, and summarizes the combination of photothermal conversion with pyroelectric, thermoelectric, and thermoresistive effects, allowing for the conversion of light signals into thermal signals and then into electric signals. Additionally, the review outlines the challenges for future research in this field.