American scientists from the University of Michigan have developed a new type of OLED organic light-emitting diode that could replace bulky and expensive night vision devices with lightweight and inexpensive glasses. The study was published in the scientific journal magazine Nature Photonics (NatPhoton).
Modern night vision systems use image intensifiers, which convert incoming near-infrared light into electrons, which are then accelerated through a vacuum into a thin disk containing hundreds of tiny channels. As the electrons pass through the channel walls and collide, they release thousands of additional electrons, which then hit the phosphor screen, which converts them into visible light.
The newly created OLED device also converts near-infrared light into visible light, amplifying it more than 100 times, but without the weight, high voltage, and bulky vacuum layer required by traditional image intensifiers. The researchers say that by optimizing the design of the device, the light could be boosted many times over.
The OLED device is equipped with a submicron-thin photon-absorbing layer and a five-layer LED package that converts electrons into photons of visible light.
The device operates at a much lower voltage than a conventional image intensifier, so it can handle small power supplies.
Some of the photons enter the user’s eye, while others escape into the absorption layer, producing even more electrons. This chain reaction dramatically increases the amount of light output.
Previous OLEDs could convert near-infrared light into visible light but there was no amplification, meaning that one input photon produced one output photon.
According to scientists, they have assembled an OLED device from readily available materials. This means that the production of such devices will not require large costs and can be easily scaled up.
Previous researchers was created A miniature infrared filter that allows you to see near-infrared radiation in complete darkness.
What are you thinking?
Source: Gazeta
Barbara Dickson is a seasoned writer for “Social Bites”. She keeps readers informed on the latest news and trends, providing in-depth coverage and analysis on a variety of topics.