Multispectral infrared-to-full-color upconversion expanding human vision

Area of Science:

• Optoelectronics
• Biomedical Engineering
• Materials Science

Background:

• Human vision is limited to the visible spectrum, missing infrared radiation due to low photon energy.
• Infrared radiation constitutes over half the solar spectrum, inaccessible to natural human vision.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an infrared-to-visible upconverter for full-color vision.
• To enhance infrared detection sensitivity and enable new visual prosthetic applications.

Main Methods:

• Utilized colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) for infrared-to-visible upconversion.
• Engineered a dual-emissive-layer organic architecture with a specific hole-injection barrier.
• Leveraged photon-energy-selective excitonic transitions and photon flux for carrier generation.

Main Results:

• Achieved ultrasensitive upconversion of multispectral infrared light into full-color visible vision.
• Demonstrated wavelength- and intensity-dependent color/luminance mapping.
• Exhibited broadband detection (>2 μm), high luminance (>700 cd m⁻²), and 3.85% photon-to-photon conversion efficiency.
• Achieved discrimination sensitivity for infrared variations over two orders of magnitude higher than conventional methods.

Conclusions:

• The CQD upconverter enables perception of infrared spectrum as visible light, surpassing natural vision limitations.
• Potential applications include wearable infrared vision eyeglasses and implantable retinal photoreceptors.
• This technology provides a foundation for next-generation visual prosthetics and human sensory expansion.