Researchers from the Beijing Institute of Technology have developed an innovative prototype of a night vision device capable of converting infrared radiation into a full-color image. Unlike traditional systems that form a monochrome image based on brightness fluctuations, the new technology uses mercury telluride quantum dots in combination with a two-layer OLED display. This design allows you to compare different wavelengths and intensities of infrared light with individual visible colors, which fundamentally changes the approach to processing optical data. Nanometer-sized quantum dots have discrete energy states, due to which they react differentially depending on the characteristics of the incoming signal.

The physical principle of the device's operation is based on the transmission of signals into a two-layer OLED structure, where one layer emits red light and the other emits blue light. The energy barrier between the layers regulates the passage of charge: with a weak infrared signal, the system generates a dim red glow, while signal amplification or a shift to shorter wavelengths activates the blue layer, creating a color mixture and increasing brightness. To test the concept, the engineers assembled a translucent prototype in the format of glasses weighing 23 grams, which allows simultaneous perception of ordinary and infrared images. Laboratory tests confirmed that the transformed signal successfully elicits a reaction in light-sensitive cells, as well as records measurable brain activity in mice and retinal response in human volunteers.

The authors of the study claim that this development redefines the paradigm of infrared vision and opens up prospects for creating a new generation of visual prostheses. However, the technology faces a number of significant limitations that prevent its immediate commercial adoption. The experiments were conducted under controlled conditions using simple high-contrast objects, so the behavior of the system in complex real-world scenarios remains unexplored. In addition, the OLED component requires an external power supply, which classifies the device as an active wearable display rather than a passive optical device. An additional barrier is the use of mercury telluride, the toxicity of which raises reasonable questions about long-term safety in direct contact with the human body.