Science & Technology

Night-vision contact lenses developed

By T.K. Randall
April 7, 2014

Image: Eyes in the Night
Credit: / (PD) U.S. Air Force Previous attempts to produce working night-vision functionality on a tiny scale using traditional methods had proven ineffective because the technology could only absorb a small percentage of the light. To get around this problem, scientists at the University of Michigan went back to the drawing board and developed a whole new way to detect light.

"The challenge for the current generation of graphene-based detectors is that their sensitivity is typically very poor," said Professor Zhaihui Zhong. "It's a hundred to a thousand times lower than what a commercial device would require."The new and improved version of the detector uses two layers of graphene with an insulating barrier layer between them. By running a current through the bottom layer the device is able to realistically compete with the sensitivity of existing night-vision devices but on a much smaller scale.

"If we integrate it with a contact lens or other wearable electronics, it expands your vision," said Zhong. "It provides you another way of interacting with your environment."

Source: Sky News

Tags: Contact Lens, Night Vision