Night Vision Contacts

Today’s night vision goggles are relatively bulky, mainly due to the fact that they need supplemental equipment to cool the sensors themselves. But a new technology has been developed that is capable of detecting the full spectrum of infrared radiation, as well as visible and ultraviolet light in a super-thin, wafer- like device.

Two sheets of graphene are separated by an insulating layer. When exposed to infrared light, electrons in the top layer of graphene are dislodged, creating positively charged holes. This produces an electrical field that affects the flow of current being sent through the bottom layer. By measuring the change in current, the brightness of the light can be deduced.

While infrared or “night” vision is best known for detecting people and animals in the dark, or heat escaping from a building, it can also be used to monitor blood flow, identify the presence of chemicals in the environment or examine an artist’s sketch underneath layers of paint. The new device is currently smaller than a pinky nail, but can be scaled down further, making it suitable for contact lenses, smartphone cameras or other wearable electronics.