Imagine if self-driving cars couldn’t “see” people or objects around them, or if doctors lost an important tool for spotting early signs of cancer.
These and many other systems rely on controlling infrared light—a type of light we can’t see but which is key to technologies like thermal cameras, 3D imaging, and health monitors.
Now, engineers at Carnegie Mellon University have invented a powerful new tool to control infrared light in new ways.
Called a graphene field-effect transistor metasurface (Gr-FET), this tiny device can change how infrared light behaves—its direction, wavelength, and polarization (how the light waves move).
This breakthrough opens the door to better security, more accurate medical tools, improved virtual reality experiences, and even wearable tech that could help detect diseases like breast cancer.
“Our device combines fast temperature changes, programmable pixels, and unique light-control abilities, all in one layer,” said Xiu Liu, the lead researcher and postdoctoral associate in mechanical engineering.
The study was published in Nature Communications.
The device is incredibly thin and made of gold pixels and a special material called graphene, which is just one atom thick.
Some pixels are placed right on the graphene, while others are separated by an insulating layer. This smart design lets engineers control each pixel individually without interfering with the others.
“That means we can have a lot of pixels very close together and still control them one by one,” said Zexiao Wang, a Ph.D. student working on the project.
One exciting use is in cybersecurity. Some hackers use “side channel attacks” to steal information by detecting heat patterns given off by electronic devices. The new device can create fake thermal patterns, hiding the real signals and protecting sensitive data like encryption keys.
The technology also shows promise in healthcare. “It could be placed in clothing to help spot cancer cells by picking up on unusual heat patterns in the body,” said Yibai Zhong, another Ph.D. student on the team.
The team also created a custom-made circuit that powers the device, so it can work by itself or be added to other products.
Lead engineer Sheng Shen is excited about the possibilities. “We may see this technology used in real life within the next five to ten years,” he said.
From smart clothes and safer online data to better tools for doctors and smarter cars, this small invention could have a big impact on our future.
