A research team from GE Global Research, General Electric’s technology development unit, has developed novel bio-inspired nanostructured systems capable of outperforming existing thermal imaging devices.
Morpho butterfly scales doped with single-walled carbon nanotubes, efficiently detect mid-wave infrared radiation as visible iridescence changes. The nanoscale pitch and the extremely small thermal mass of these biological optical resonators provide outstanding response sensitivity and speed in a heat-sink-free operation. (Photo: Business Wire)
These new systems are one of the innovations that have been developed by GE scientists through their studies on the technological applications of Morpho butterfly wings’ photonic properties. The nanostructures on Morpho butterfly wings applied with a single-walled carbon nanotube coating are capable of sensing temperature alterations down to 0.02°C, at a response speed of one-fortieth of a second.
GE researchers use their new detection concept to develop several promising thermal imaging and sensing applications for advanced medical diagnosis, thermal security surveillance, thermal characterization of wound infections, fire thermal imaging, advanced thermal vision, non-destructive inspection and much more, where imaged areas’ visual heat maps work as a precious condition indicator.
GE's Butterfly-inspired Design to Enable Advanced, Low Cost Thermal Imaging Devices
According to Dr. Radislav Potyrailo, Head of GE’s bio-inspired photonics programs and Principal Scientist at GE Global Research, the iridescence of Morpho butterflies has helped GE researchers to develop future-generation thermal imaging sensors that offer quicker response times and higher sensitivity in a simple, cost-effective design. This new thermal imaging sensor class offers meaningful enhancements over current detectors in terms of cost, power necessities, size, sensitivity, speed, and image quality.
GE Global Research’s novel bio-inspired nanostructured systems widens thermal imaging applications by enhancing the response time, sensitivity, image resolution and the manufacturability of new systems. These improvements pave the way to manufacture highly sophisticated systems at a very low cost.
Dr. Potyrailo further said that the multi-organization research team is also focusing on the development of photonic nanostructures based on Morpho butterfly wing scales for use in highly selective vapor sensing purposes, with commercial applications expected to reach the marketplace within the coming five years.