A Photoresponsive Red-Hair-Inspired Polydopamine-Based Copolymer for Hybrid Photocapacitive Sensors

Inspired by the powerful photosensitizing properties of the red hair pigments pheomelanins, a photoresponsive cysteine-containing variant of the adhesive biopolymer polydopamine (pDA) is developed via oxidative copolymerization of dopamine (DA) and 5-S-cysteinyldopamine (CDA) in variable ratios. Chemical and spectral analysis indicate the presence of benzothiazole/benzothiazine units akin to those of pheomelanins. p(DA/CDA) copolymers display impedance properties similar to those of biological materials and a marked photoimpedance response to light stimuli. The use of the p(DA/CDA) copolymer to implement a solution-processed hybrid photocapacitive/resistive metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) device disclosed herein is the first example of technological exploitation of photoactive, red-hair-inspired biomaterials as soft enhancement layer for silicon in an optoelectronic device. The bio-inspired materials described herein may provide the active component of new hybrid photocapacitive sensors with a chemically tunable response to visible light.