The goal was to substitute photoreceptors with a light-sensitive material capable of restoring photosensitivity to the retina, by easing down the retina on a layer of organic photovoltaic semiconductor.

FORBES: Artificial Retina From A Photovoltaic Polymer

The device that Dr Kirczenow and Dr Rego had in mind is called a semiconductor heterostructure a semiconductor sandwich made of a thin layer of aluminium gallium arsenide held between two thicker layers of gallium arsenide.

ECONOMIST: Microelectronics