Nanophotonics for Light-Matter Interaction

A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991). This special issue belongs to the section "Nanophotonics Materials and Devices".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 January 2022) | Viewed by 14344

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, USA
Interests: nanophotonics; strong coupling; polaritons; surface phonon polaritons; plasmonics; light-matter interaction; rabi splitting; chemical physics; single molecule coupling; hot carrier chemistry; solar-driven catalysis

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nanophotonic systems offer unique opportunities to utilize light-matter interactions for single to few molecule sensing, enhancing advanced spectroscopies (2DIR, coherent Raman variants, etc.), solar-driven photocatalysis, and, perhaps most strikingly, alteration of fundamental material properties via the formation of hybrid light-matter polariton states. Both weak and strong light-matter interactions can have important scientific and technological implications, and nanophotonic systems can play a central role here since they enhance optical field intensities, create extraordinarily small mode volumes, and act as local energy sources for driving chemical processes. Often, progress is most pronounced when disparate fields cooperate (e.g., chemistry, optical physics, and quantum sciences). 

This Special Issue of Nanomaterials will focus on the latest discoveries relevant to: nanophotonic interactions with materials; optical coupling to influence materials properties and performance; field-enhanced advanced spectroscopies; losses in nanophotonic systems; new or unique materials systems that enable nanophotonic technologies; impact of mode distribution and inhomogeneity in nanoscale optical modes; coupling to small numbers of molecules; and strong coupling in the visible, infrared, and terahertz regimes.

Dr. Blake S. Simpkins
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • nanophotonics
  • strong coupling
  • polaritons
  • surface phonon polaritons
  • plasmonics
  • light-matter interaction
  • rabi splitting
  • chemical physics
  • single molecule coupling
  • hot carrier chemistry
  • solar-driven catalysis

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

10 pages, 1250 KiB  
Article
Potential of TiN/GaN Heterostructures for Hot Carrier Generation and Collection
by Blake S. Simpkins, Sergey I. Maximenko and Olga Baturina
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(5), 837; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12050837 - 2 Mar 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1916
Abstract
Herein, we find that TiN sputter-deposited on GaN displayed the desired optical properties for plasmonic applications. While this is a positive result indicating the possible use of p- or n-type GaN as a collector of plasmonically generated hot carriers, the interfacial properties differed [...] Read more.
Herein, we find that TiN sputter-deposited on GaN displayed the desired optical properties for plasmonic applications. While this is a positive result indicating the possible use of p- or n-type GaN as a collector of plasmonically generated hot carriers, the interfacial properties differed considerably depending on doping conditions. On p-type GaN, a distinct Schottky barrier was formed with a barrier height of ~0.56 eV, which will enable effective separation of photogenerated electrons and holes, a typical approach used to extend their lifetimes. On the other hand, no transport barrier was found for TiN on n-type GaN. While the lack of spontaneous carrier separation in this system will likely reduce unprompted hot carrier collection efficiencies, it enables a bias-dependent response whereby charges of the desired type (e.g., electrons) could be directed into the semiconductor or sequestered in the plasmonic material. The specific application of interest would determine which of these conditions is most desirable. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanophotonics for Light-Matter Interaction)
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18 pages, 2452 KiB  
Article
Strain Effects on the Electronic and Optical Properties of Kesterite Cu2ZnGeX4 (X = S, Se): First-Principles Study
by Jawad El Hamdaoui, Mohamed El-Yadri, Mohamed Farkous, Mohamed Kria, Maykel Courel, Miguel Ojeda, Laura M. Pérez, Anton Tiutiunnyk, David Laroze and El Mustapha Feddi
Nanomaterials 2021, 11(10), 2692; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11102692 - 13 Oct 2021
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2011
Abstract
Following the chronological stages of calculations imposed by the WIEN2K code, we have performed a series of density functional theory calculations, from which we were able to study the effect of strain on the kesterite structures for two quaternary semiconductor compounds Cu2 [...] Read more.
Following the chronological stages of calculations imposed by the WIEN2K code, we have performed a series of density functional theory calculations, from which we were able to study the effect of strain on the kesterite structures for two quaternary semiconductor compounds Cu2ZnGeS4 and Cu2ZnGeSe4. Remarkable changes were found in the electronic and optical properties of these two materials during the application of biaxial strain. Indeed, the band gap energy of both materials decreases from the equilibrium state, and the applied strain is more pronounced. The main optical features are also related to the applied strain. Notably, we found that the energies of the peaks present in the dielectric function spectra are slightly shifted towards low energies with strain, leading to significant refraction and extinction index responses. The obtained results can be used to reinforce the candidature of Cu2ZnGeX4(X = S, Se) in the field of photovoltaic devices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanophotonics for Light-Matter Interaction)
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10 pages, 3858 KiB  
Article
Miniature Fabry-Perot Cavity Based on Fiber Bragg Gratings Fabricated by Fs Laser Micromachining Technique
by Luohao Lei, Hongye Li, Jing Shi, Qihao Hu, Xiaofan Zhao, Baiyi Wu, Meng Wang and Zefeng Wang
Nanomaterials 2021, 11(10), 2505; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11102505 - 26 Sep 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1727
Abstract
Fabry-Perot cavity (FPC) based on Fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) is an excellent candidate for fiber sensing and high-precision measurement. The advancement of the femtosecond laser micromachining technique provides more choices for the fabrication of FBGs-based FPCs. In this paper, we fabricate miniature FBGs-based [...] Read more.
Fabry-Perot cavity (FPC) based on Fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) is an excellent candidate for fiber sensing and high-precision measurement. The advancement of the femtosecond laser micromachining technique provides more choices for the fabrication of FBGs-based FPCs. In this paper, we fabricate miniature FBGs-based FPCs, using the femtosecond laser line-by-line scanning writing technique for the first time. By this method, the FBGs can be limited to a specific area in the fiber core region. The grating length, position, and the distance between two successive FBGs can be conveniently controlled to achieve the desired transmission spectrum. For future applications in sensing, the temperature and strain responses of the fabricated FBGs-based FPCs were studied experimentally. This work provides a meaningful guidance for the fabrication and application of miniature FPCs based on FBGs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanophotonics for Light-Matter Interaction)
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12 pages, 3634 KiB  
Article
Active Electromagnetically Induced Transparency Effect in Graphene-Dielectric Hybrid Metamaterial and Its High-Performance Sensor Application
by Fan Gao, Peicheng Yuan, Shaojun Gao, Juan Deng, Zhiyu Sun, Guoli Jin, Guanglu Zeng and Bo Yan
Nanomaterials 2021, 11(8), 2032; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11082032 - 10 Aug 2021
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2297
Abstract
Electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) based on dielectric metamaterials has attracted attentions in recent years because of its functional manipulation of electromagnetic waves and high refractive index sensitivity, such as high transmission, sharp phase change, and large group delay, etc. In this paper, an [...] Read more.
Electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) based on dielectric metamaterials has attracted attentions in recent years because of its functional manipulation of electromagnetic waves and high refractive index sensitivity, such as high transmission, sharp phase change, and large group delay, etc. In this paper, an active controlled EIT effect based on a graphene-dielectric hybrid metamaterial is proposed in the near infrared region. By changing the Fermi level of the top-covered graphene, a dynamic EIT effect with a high quality factor (Q-factor) is realized, which exhibits a tunable, slow, light performance with a maximum group index of 2500. Another intriguing characteristic of the EIT effect is its high refractive index sensitivity. In the graphene-covered metamaterial, the refractive index sensitivity is simulated as high as 411 nm/RIU and the figure-of-merit (FOM) is up to 159, which outperforms the metastructure without graphene. Therefore, the proposed graphene-covered dielectric metamaterial presents an active EIT effect in the near infrared region, which highlights its great application potential in deep optical switching, tunable slow light devices, and sensitive refractive index sensors, etc. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanophotonics for Light-Matter Interaction)
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14 pages, 2690 KiB  
Article
Effect of Random Nanostructured Metallic Environments on Spontaneous Emission of HITC Dye
by Sangeeta Rout, Zhen Qi, Ludvig S. Petrosyan, Tigran V. Shahbazyan, Monika M. Biener, Carl E. Bonner and Mikhail A. Noginov
Nanomaterials 2020, 10(11), 2135; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano10112135 - 27 Oct 2020
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1576
Abstract
We have studied emission kinetics of HITC laser dye on top of glass, smooth Au films, and randomly structured porous Au nanofoams. The observed concentration quenching of luminescence of highly concentrated dye on top of glass (energy transfer to acceptors) and the inhibition [...] Read more.
We have studied emission kinetics of HITC laser dye on top of glass, smooth Au films, and randomly structured porous Au nanofoams. The observed concentration quenching of luminescence of highly concentrated dye on top of glass (energy transfer to acceptors) and the inhibition of the concentration quenching in vicinity of smooth Au films were in accord with our recent findings. Intriguingly, the emission kinetics recorded in different local spots of the Au nanofoam samples had a spread of the decay rates, which was large at low dye concentrations and became narrower with increase of the dye concentration. We infer that in different subvolumes of Au nanofoams, HITC molecules are coupled to the nanofoams weaker or stronger. The inhibition of the concentration quenching in Au nanofoams was stronger than on top of smooth Au films. This was true for all weakly and strongly coupled subvolumes contributing to the spread of the emission kinetics. The experimental observations were explained using theoretical model accounting for change in the Förster radius caused by the strong energy transfer to metal. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanophotonics for Light-Matter Interaction)
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15 pages, 6222 KiB  
Article
Light Trapping in Single Elliptical Silicon Nanowires
by Wenfu Liu, Yinling Wang, Xiaolei Guo, Jun Song, Xiao Wang and Yasha Yi
Nanomaterials 2020, 10(11), 2121; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano10112121 - 25 Oct 2020
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2123
Abstract
Light trapping in single nanowires (NWs) is of vital importance for photovoltaic applications. However, circular NWs (CNWs) can limit their light-trapping ability due to high geometrical symmetry. In this work, we present a detailed study of light trapping in single silicon NWs with [...] Read more.
Light trapping in single nanowires (NWs) is of vital importance for photovoltaic applications. However, circular NWs (CNWs) can limit their light-trapping ability due to high geometrical symmetry. In this work, we present a detailed study of light trapping in single silicon NWs with an elliptical cross-section (ENWs). We demonstrate that the ENWs exhibit significantly enhanced light trapping compared with the CNWs, which can be ascribed to the symmetry-broken structure that can orthogonalize the direction of light illumination and the leaky mode resonances (LMRs). That is, the elliptical cross-section can simultaneously increase the light path length by increasing the vertical axis and reshape the LMR modes by decreasing the horizontal axis. We found that the light absorption can be engineered via tuning the horizontal and vertical axes, the photocurrent is significantly enhanced by 374.0% (150.3%, 74.1%) or 146.1% (61.0%, 35.3%) in comparison with that of the CNWs with the same diameter as the horizontal axis of 100 (200, 400) nm or the vertical axis of 1000 nm, respectively. This work advances our understanding of how to improve light trapping based on the symmetry breaking from the CNWs to ENWs and provides a rational way for designing high-efficiency single NW photovoltaic devices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanophotonics for Light-Matter Interaction)
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17 pages, 3369 KiB  
Article
Design of an on-Chip Room Temperature Group-IV Quantum Photonic Chem/Bio Interferometric Sensor Based on Parity Detection
by Francesco De Leonardis, Richard A. Soref and Vittorio M. N. Passaro
Nanomaterials 2020, 10(10), 1984; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano10101984 - 7 Oct 2020
Viewed by 1722
Abstract
We propose and analyze three Si-based room-temperature strip-guided “manufacturable” integrated quantum photonic chem/bio sensor chips operating at wavelengths of 1550 nm, 1330 nm, and 640 nm, respectively. We propose design rules that will achieve super-sensitivity (above the classical limit) by means of mixing [...] Read more.
We propose and analyze three Si-based room-temperature strip-guided “manufacturable” integrated quantum photonic chem/bio sensor chips operating at wavelengths of 1550 nm, 1330 nm, and 640 nm, respectively. We propose design rules that will achieve super-sensitivity (above the classical limit) by means of mixing between states of coherent light and single-mode squeezed-light. The silicon-on-insulator (SOI), silicon-on-sapphire (SOS), and silicon nitride-on-SiO2-on Si (SiN) platforms have been investigated. Each chip is comprised of photonic building blocks: a race-track resonator, a pump filter, an integrated Mach-Zehnder interferometric chem/bio sensor, and a photonic circuit to perform parity measurements, where our homodyne measurement circuit avoids the use of single-photon-counting detectors and utilizes instead conventional photodetectors. A combination of super-sensitivity with super-resolution is predicted for all three platforms to be used for chem/bio sensing applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanophotonics for Light-Matter Interaction)
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