Featured in the Graphene Flagship Annual Report 2025 

Reliable machine vision remains a challenge in fog, rain, dust and low-light conditions. To address these limitations, 2DNeuralVision is developing a new generation of imaging technologies combining 2D materials and lead-free quantum dots. The project’s recent progress was highlighted in the Graphene Flagship Annual Report 2025.  

Extending vision beyond the visible 

One of the project’s key innovations is a short-wave infrared (SWIR) image sensor designed to perform where conventional cameras struggle. Operating in the SWIR range helps reduce the effects of optical scattering caused by adverse weather, improving visibility and object detection. The technology can also make pedestrians wearing dark clothing easier to detect, enhancing safety in automotive applications. 

The consortium successfully integrated lead-free indium antimonide (InSb) colloidal quantum dots with CMOS-compatible image-sensor technology. This achievement enabled the demonstration of a high-definition (1280 × 720) wide-spectrum image sensor, representing an important step towards practical short-wave infrared (SWIR) imaging systems. 

Towards safer and smarter vision systems 

These advances support the development of low-power machine vision technologies for applications ranging from automotive and robotics to future AR/VR systems. To validate the benefits of SWIR imaging in real-world scenarios, the project has also developed a dedicated test vehicle capable of collecting synchronised visible and infrared data.  

The achievement’s inclusion in the Graphene Flagship Annual Report 2025 reflects the growing maturity of 2DNeuralVision’s imaging technology and its potential contribution to next-generation vision systems.