Shlok J. Paul
Scientists have created ecological “quantum paints” that can replace toxic metals in infrared detectors.
A new discovery in the field of quantum physics can make night vision faster, clean and accessible to a wider range of industries.
A new infrared chamber can revolutionize the way we see in the dark. The approach of the published in September in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. Replaces mercury, lead and other substances restricted by ecological quantum pointscapable of detecting infrared light without resorting to hazardous materials.
The investigators resorted to colloidal quantum points. These quantum points are produced entirely in liquid form, as if it were a paint, and then applied through already common scalable coating techniques in industries such as packaging and newspaper printing.
“Industry faces a perfect storm: environmental regulations are squeezing while demand for infrared imaging is exploding,” said Ayaskanta Sahu, a professor at Nyu Tandon’s Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and study author. “This creates true Blocks for companies trying to increase the production of thermal imaging systems“.
The researchers were able to make quantum points ink sufficiently conducting to transmit the light signs received through a technique called Setting ligands in the solution phasewhich adjusts surface chemistry of quantum points to improve performance on electronic devices.
“What is excited is to be able to take a material that has long been considered too difficult to use on real devices and transform it to be competitive,” said Shlok J. Paul, researcher and main author of the study. “With more time, this material can highlight even more in the deep infrared spectrumwhere there are few proper materials. ”
