Nanoco’s HEATWAVE quantum dots are reshaping the economics and capabilities of infrared sensing. By extending the reach of standard CMOS Image Sensors into NIR and SWIR wavelengths, this innovation positions Nanoco as a strategic enabler of high-resolution, low-cost imaging for tomorrow’s smart devices and sensor applications.
Nanoco’s HEATWAVE® quantum dots have been purpose-built to transform the sensor landscape, enabling CMOS Image Sensors to see far beyond their traditional limits. By enhancing standard sensors to detect Near-Infrared (NIR) and Short-Wave Infrared (SWIR) wavelengths, this technology unlocks new dimensions of vision—from 900nm up to 1800nm and beyond—by simply coating the surface of a CMOS Image Sensor.
The magic lies in the tunability of the quantum dots. By altering their size, Nanoco can finely calibrate which wavelengths the material absorbs, creating tailored solutions for a wide variety of sensor applications. This tunability, combined with direct compatibility with existing silicon-based CMOS platforms, means manufacturers can expand functionality without redesigning their systems from the ground up.
Crucially, HEATWAVE quantum dots preserve the native sensitivity of the sensor in the visible spectrum. Devices can seamlessly toggle between visible and non-visible light, creating highly versatile solutions for next-generation imaging applications in everything from surveillance to industrial automation.
What sets HEATWAVE apart is its ability to deliver higher-resolution images using smaller pixels—something traditionally only possible with far more expensive alternatives like InGaAs sensors. This shift allows manufacturers to produce thinner, lighter, and more power-efficient devices, all at a fraction of the cost.
Beyond affordability and integration, Nanoco’s quantum dots expand the working dynamic range of CMOS devices and can be engineered to match specific gaps in the solar spectrum, opening up advanced use cases in precision agriculture, autonomous vehicles, and medical diagnostics.
Nanoco Group PLC (LON:NANO) leads the world in the research, development and large-scale manufacture of heavy metal-free nanomaterials for use in displays, lighting, vertical farming, solar energy and bio-imaging.
