Transparent Near-infrared Absorbing Dyes and Applications

Near-infrared (NIR) absorbing dyes have been applied to various applications such as optical filters, biotechnology, energy storage and conversion, coating additive, and traditionally information-storage materials. Because image sensors used in cell-phones and digital cameras have sensitivity in the NIR region, the NIR cut-off filter is essential to achieving more clear images. As energy storage and conversion have been important, diverse NIR absorbing materials have been developed to ex-tend the absorption region to the NIR region, and NIR absorbing materials-based research has proceeded to improve device performances. Adding NIR-absorbing dye with a photo-thermal effect to a self-healable coating system has been attractive for future mobility technology, and more effective self-healing properties have been reported. In this report, the chemical structures of representative NIR-absorbing dyes and state of the art research based on NIR-absorbing dyes are introduced.