Researchers Develop Contact Lenses Enabling Infrared Vision
A team of researchers in China has developed contact lenses capable of detecting infrared light, potentially allowing humans to see in the dark. The lenses use graphene and other materials to sense infrared radiation and convert it into visible signals. The technology has been tested in laboratories and may have applications in security, medicine, and environmental monitoring.
A research team led by Professor Tian Xue and Professor Yuqian Ma at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), in collaboration with other scientists, has developed contact lenses that may enable humans to detect infrared light. The lenses incorporate a thin layer of graphene along with other materials that can sense infrared radiation. This radiation is then converted into signals visible to the human eye. Laboratory tests have been conducted to evaluate the functionality of the lenses. The researchers suggest that the technology could be used in various fields, including security, where enhanced vision in low-light conditions is valuable; medicine, where infrared imaging can assist in diagnostics; and environmental monitoring, where detecting heat signatures is important. The findings have been published in the scientific journal Advanced Materials.