Infrared imaging is generally associated with cumbersome and impractical equipment. With Graphene, a very compact layer of carbon atoms, researchers from the University of Michigan have developed a much more accessible sensor only need to be at room temperature to operate. Zhaohui Zhong, an assistant professor said that they can make this item very end and it can be incorporated into a contact lens. Scientists have detected light by observing how the electric charges in the graphene impact when current circulating therein.
They placed an insulating barrier between two graphene sheets and found that the electrons released when the light touched the top sheet, still came in their way to the bottom. When the researchers measured changes in current between the top layer and the bottom layer, they were able to determine the intensity of the light flash which reached graphene.
They invented a new way of detecting light and they already envision that people will be able to adopt this mechanism in many devices. This sensor, smaller than a little finger nail, could offer many advantages in the scientific and military communities, in addition to its potential to the general public.
Google has already announced in January the development of an intelligent contact lens that could monitor the level of glucose in our blood. In February, Nokia has received a grant of 980 million Euros from the European Union in order to design a type of graphene proved to be the strongest material in the world that is 300 times more than steel.
This innovative technology can really please us. We are delighted to learn that the infrared sensors could advance medicine but also equip ourselves with night vision. We hope that contact lenses or other devices will soon be equipped with these sensors to go play outside after dark.
