Revolutionizing Eye-Safe LIDAR: Breakthrough Quantum Dots Go Green and Infrared

Breakthrough in Eco-Friendly Quantum Dots Revolutionizes LIDAR Technology

🚀 Breakthrough in Eco-Friendly Quantum Dots Revolutionizes LIDAR Technology

Ag2Te Colloidal Quantum Dots at ICFO

In a major leap forward for sustainable photonic technologies, researchers at ICFO have unveiled a groundbreaking advancement in shortwave infrared (SWIR) detection using heavy-metal-free quantum dots. This innovative development enables the creation of eye-safe LIDAR systems that are not only high-performing but also eco-friendly.

🌍 Why SWIR Light Matters

SWIR light offers unique advantages: it's less affected by atmospheric conditions, ideal for mapping, imaging in adverse weather, and is inherently safe for human eyes — crucial for autonomous vehicles and consumer electronics.

Yet, despite its potential, SWIR technology has remained largely restricted to military and scientific applications due to expensive, hazardous materials used in traditional detectors.

🔬 Enter Silver Telluride Quantum Dots

The ICFO team, led by Prof. Gerasimos Konstantatos, created silver telluride (Ag₂Te) colloidal quantum dots via a new synthesis method that dramatically improves their photodetector performance — without relying on toxic elements like lead or mercury.

"At first, the performance wasn’t remarkable, but a post-treatment with silver nitrate transformed the results," noted Dr. Yongjie Wang, co-lead author. The new devices showed:

  • 🌟 Dark current density below 500 nA/cm²
  • 🌟 External quantum efficiency of 30% at 1400 nm
  • 🌟 A response time of just 25 nanoseconds
  • 🌟 An impressive linear dynamic range over 150 dB
LIDAR Mapping Using SWIR Light

🛰️ First-Ever SWIR LIDAR Using Non-Toxic QDs

For the first time, the team built a working SWIR LIDAR system using these eco-friendly materials. It measured distances over 10 meters with decimeter precision — a massive achievement in low-cost, green sensing technologies.

♻️ Green Tech for a Brighter Future

By complying with the EU RoHS Directive, these materials meet strict environmental standards, paving the way for commercial and consumer adoption.

Looking ahead, the ICFO team is aiming for even faster, more efficient designs. Their work pushes us closer to bringing SWIR photonics to smartphones, vehicles, and smart cities.

ICFO researcher Hao Wu working on quantum dots

📖 Learn More

For deeper insights, read the full paper published in Advanced Materials: Shortwave Infrared Light Detection and Ranging Using Silver Telluride Quantum Dots.

🔗 Source: Phys.org – April 2025

Keywords: quantum dots, SWIR, infrared photodetectors, eye-safe LIDAR, Ag2Te, nanomaterials, ICFO, sustainable tech, photonics, non-toxic sensors

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