The new system relies on infrared sensors capable of producing ultra-high-resolution images up to the 4K level, making it a strong candidate for use in cameras and smartphones in the future.
This innovation relies on a fundamental physical fact: any object with a temperature above absolute zero (the lowest temperature achievable in nature, −273.15°C) emits electromagnetic radiation, most of which, at normal temperatures, falls within the infrared range. While the human eye can only perceive visible light, some living organisms have developed various ways to detect these invisible wavelengths.
Among these creatures, pit vipers (Crotalinae) are distinguished by their ability to sense heat through a special organ known as the "pit organ," located near the nostrils. This organ consists of a hollow cavity covered by a thin membrane, which is affected by infrared radiation, transmitting a precise thermal image to the snake's brain that enables it to detect its prey even in darkness.
Inspired by this natural system, scientists at the Beijing Institute of Technology developed an artificial device capable of detecting infrared radiation and converting it directly into high-quality visible images. The system consists of multiple layers of different materials, stacked on an 8-inch diameter disc, working together to convert thermal radiation into an image visible to the human eye.
The process begins with a sensing layer based on "colloidal quantum dots," which are nanoparticles made of mercury and tellurium atoms that generate electrical charges when absorbing infrared light. These charges are then transferred through layers designed to reduce interference to an organic light-emitting diode layer known as a "frequency converter."
In this layer, the energy resulting from the meeting of electrons with "holes" is converted into visible green light thanks to phosphorus molecules, before this light reaches the complementary oxidized metal-semiconductor (CMOS) sensor, where it is converted into a high-resolution digital image.
This system is the first of its kind capable of converting short and medium wave infrared radiation, with wavelengths ranging from 1.1 to 5 micrometers, into ultra-high-resolution images at room temperature, without the need for expensive cooling systems.
The compact design, which places the CMOS sensor directly above the frequency converter, allows weak signals to be captured before they are overwhelmed by noise.
This technology expands the range of human vision by more than 14 times, enabling the detection of warm objects in challenging conditions such as darkness, fog, and smoke. Scientists believe these capabilities open the door to a wide range of applications, including industrial inspection, food safety, gas sensing, smart agriculture, and autonomous driving.
