Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-09DOI: 10.1016/j.photonics.2026.101523
Ivan A. Reznik , Arina A. Cherednikova , Denis V. Danilov , Aleksandra V. Koroleva , Evgeniy V. Zhizhin , Sergei A. Cherevkov , Mikhail V. Zyuzin
Quantum dots (QDs) possess unique, tunable optical properties that offer powerful opportunities for selective light-activated photochemistry and the generation of specific reactive oxygen (ROS) species. In this work, the photophysical properties and ROS generation of AgInS2 QDs were tuned by varying the Ag:In stoichiometric ratio. While all synthesized QDs maintained a uniform size (4 nm), increasing the Ag:In ratio induced spectral redshifts and significantly reduced photoluminescence quantum yields (PLQY). This behavior is attributed to an increased concentration of donor–acceptor defect states that facilitate nonradiative recombination. ROS generation efficiency, quantified by p-nitrosodiphenylamine (RNO) bleaching under 405 nm irradiation, was inversely correlated with PLQY. QDs with lower luminescence were 2- to 3-fold more efficient at generating ROS. This confirms that radiative recombination and ROS formation act as competing relaxation pathways of the excited state. A limitation was observed at high irradiation doses (200 J), where ROS-induced surface photodegradation reduced photocatalytic activity. The obtained results demonstrate that controlled stoichiometry in AgInS2 QDs allows precise tuning of their optical and photochemical behavior, enabling optimization for applications in optical sensing and photodynamic therapy.
{"title":"Stoichiometry-dependent ROS generation efficiency in ternary quantum dots","authors":"Ivan A. Reznik , Arina A. Cherednikova , Denis V. Danilov , Aleksandra V. Koroleva , Evgeniy V. Zhizhin , Sergei A. Cherevkov , Mikhail V. Zyuzin","doi":"10.1016/j.photonics.2026.101523","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.photonics.2026.101523","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Quantum dots (QDs) possess unique, tunable optical properties that offer powerful opportunities for selective light-activated photochemistry and the generation of specific reactive oxygen (ROS) species. In this work, the photophysical properties and ROS generation of AgInS<sub>2</sub> QDs were tuned by varying the Ag:In stoichiometric ratio. While all synthesized QDs maintained a uniform size (<span><math><mo>∼</mo></math></span>4 nm), increasing the Ag:In ratio induced spectral redshifts and significantly reduced photoluminescence quantum yields (PLQY). This behavior is attributed to an increased concentration of donor–acceptor defect states that facilitate nonradiative recombination. ROS generation efficiency, quantified by p-nitrosodiphenylamine (RNO) bleaching under 405 nm irradiation, was inversely correlated with PLQY. QDs with lower luminescence were 2- to 3-fold more efficient at generating ROS. This confirms that radiative recombination and ROS formation act as competing relaxation pathways of the excited state. A limitation was observed at high irradiation doses (<span><math><mo>></mo></math></span>200 J), where ROS-induced surface photodegradation reduced photocatalytic activity. The obtained results demonstrate that controlled stoichiometry in AgInS<sub>2</sub> QDs allows precise tuning of their optical and photochemical behavior, enabling optimization for applications in optical sensing and photodynamic therapy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49699,"journal":{"name":"Photonics and Nanostructures-Fundamentals and Applications","volume":"70 ","pages":"Article 101523"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147399113","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-05DOI: 10.1016/j.photonics.2026.101521
Ganga Chinna Rao Devarapu , Stavroula Foteinopoulou
Phonon-polariton (PhP) media are near-perfect reflectors in bulk form, within their PhP-gap spectrum (reststrahlen band) where their permittivity is negative. However, many recent studies brought forward their strong potential for light control when structured. In this work, we theoretically explore beam manipulation capabilities via dispersion engineering of PhP material-dielectric layered structures. These periodic media have a sub-wavelength, yet large enough, elemental unit, yielding mesophotonic and not effective averaged responses. The associated complex dispersion of the supported native modes, we hereafter refer to as Floquet-Bloch PhPs, relates the frequency, , with the complex Floquet-Bloch wave vector, . We find that quasi-forbidden Floquet-Bloch PhPs either resemble metallic modes or photonic-band-gap (PBG) behavior. Furthermore, we show that allowed Floquet-Bloch PhP waves can propagate over large distances of several free-space wavelengths, with their Floquet-Bloch phase propagating along the wave’s propagation direction [forward waves (FW)] or antiparallel to the propagation direction [backward waves (BW)]. We also determined a simple universal criterion that classifies Floquet-Bloch wave propagation as FW versus BW type, from the sign of , applicable to any lossy periodic medium. Our calculations indicate that negative refraction of Floquet-Bloch PhPs is not possible (for TE light) or attainable (for TM light) at an interface that is normal to the stacking direction. On the other hand, our analysis determined that BW Floquet-Bloch PhPs can undergo large negative beam deflections from within the PC, close to -90 degrees, at judiciously oriented slanted interfaces. We confirm such a strong beam steering with a first-principles numerical experiment in a paradigm SiC-Si wedge structure supporting BW Floquet-Bloch PhPs. Finally, we observe Floquet-Bloch PhPs exhibit a highly tailorable angular response and showcase a large-angle (high-k) pass filtering behavior, a key capability for thermal-image edge detection. Our findings demonstrate how Floquet-Bloch PhPs functionalize PhP-gap materials, enabling their use in LWIR/VLWIR photonic applications.
{"title":"Dispersion-engineered Floquet–Bloch phonon polaritons for extreme infrared beam control","authors":"Ganga Chinna Rao Devarapu , Stavroula Foteinopoulou","doi":"10.1016/j.photonics.2026.101521","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.photonics.2026.101521","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Phonon-polariton (PhP) media are near-perfect reflectors in bulk form, within their PhP-gap spectrum (reststrahlen band) where their permittivity is negative. However, many recent studies brought forward their strong potential for light control when structured. In this work, we theoretically explore beam manipulation capabilities via dispersion engineering of PhP material-dielectric layered structures. These periodic media have a sub-wavelength, yet large enough, elemental unit, yielding mesophotonic and not effective averaged responses. The associated complex dispersion of the supported native modes, we hereafter refer to as Floquet-Bloch PhPs, relates the frequency, <span><math><mi>ω</mi></math></span>, with the complex Floquet-Bloch wave vector, <span><math><mrow><mover><mrow><mi>q</mi></mrow><mrow><mo>̃</mo></mrow></mover><mo>=</mo><mrow><mo>[</mo><mtext>Re</mtext><mrow><mo>(</mo><mover><mrow><mi>q</mi></mrow><mrow><mo>̃</mo></mrow></mover><mo>)</mo></mrow><mo>,</mo><mtext>Im</mtext><mrow><mo>(</mo><mover><mrow><mi>q</mi></mrow><mrow><mo>̃</mo></mrow></mover><mo>)</mo></mrow><mo>]</mo></mrow></mrow></math></span>. We find that quasi-forbidden Floquet-Bloch PhPs either resemble metallic modes or photonic-band-gap (PBG) behavior. Furthermore, we show that allowed Floquet-Bloch PhP waves can propagate over large distances of several free-space wavelengths, with their Floquet-Bloch phase propagating along the wave’s propagation direction [forward waves (FW)] or antiparallel to the propagation direction [backward waves (BW)]. We also determined a simple universal criterion that classifies Floquet-Bloch wave propagation as FW versus BW type, from the sign of <span><math><mrow><mtext>Re</mtext><mrow><mo>(</mo><mover><mrow><mi>q</mi></mrow><mrow><mo>̃</mo></mrow></mover><mo>)</mo></mrow><mi>⋅</mi><mtext>Im</mtext><mrow><mo>(</mo><mover><mrow><mi>q</mi></mrow><mrow><mo>̃</mo></mrow></mover><mo>)</mo></mrow></mrow></math></span>, applicable to any lossy periodic medium. Our calculations indicate that negative refraction of Floquet-Bloch PhPs is not possible (for TE light) or attainable (for TM light) at an interface that is normal to the stacking direction. On the other hand, our analysis determined that BW Floquet-Bloch PhPs can undergo large negative beam deflections from within the PC, close to -90 degrees, at judiciously oriented slanted interfaces. We confirm such a strong beam steering with a first-principles numerical experiment in a paradigm SiC-Si wedge structure supporting BW Floquet-Bloch PhPs. Finally, we observe Floquet-Bloch PhPs exhibit a highly tailorable angular response and showcase a large-angle (high-k) pass filtering behavior, a key capability for thermal-image edge detection. Our findings demonstrate how Floquet-Bloch PhPs functionalize PhP-gap materials, enabling their use in LWIR/VLWIR photonic applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49699,"journal":{"name":"Photonics and Nanostructures-Fundamentals and Applications","volume":"70 ","pages":"Article 101521"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147399110","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-27DOI: 10.1016/j.photonics.2026.101524
Thanh Tien Do , Trung Thanh Le
We present APMR-CNN, a novel photonic convolutional neural network architecture that leverages cascaded All-Pass Microring Resonators (APMRs) to achieve compact, energy-efficient, and fully optical nonlinear activation. Each APMR node consists of dual microring resonators with multiple phase shifters, enabling programmable phase modulation and wavelength-dependent nonlinear transfer functions without electronic conversions. To further enhance nonlinear expressiveness and stabilize optical training, two newly proposed techniques — Inverted-Residual Detuning (IRD) and Detuned Residual Skip (DRS) — are introduced and applied within the APMR-CNN architecture. The architecture integrates these optical activations directly into convolutional layers, forming an all-optical pipeline for feature extraction and classification. FDTD simulations verify strong resonance confinement at with , confirming practical feasibility. The trained 2-ring APMR-CNN achieves 98.27% accuracy on MNIST and 90.23% on USPS, maintaining robust generalization across datasets with significantly fewer optical components. With a total footprint of 0.2 mm and an inference energy of 53 pJ/MAC, the design demonstrates superior compactness and scalability compared to conventional photonic and electronic accelerators. The proposed APMR-CNN can be used in compact optical AI chips for vision and communication tasks. Its small size and low energy make it suitable for real-time edge computing and hybrid photonic–electronic processors. This work highlights a practical route toward scalable, fast, and low-power photonic deep learning accelerators, bridging the gap between linear optical computing and nonlinear neural reasoning.
{"title":"APMR-accelerated photonic CNN: Compact nonlinear optical computing with dual-ring resonators","authors":"Thanh Tien Do , Trung Thanh Le","doi":"10.1016/j.photonics.2026.101524","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.photonics.2026.101524","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>We present <strong>APMR-CNN</strong>, a novel photonic convolutional neural network architecture that leverages cascaded All-Pass Microring Resonators (APMRs) to achieve compact, energy-efficient, and fully optical nonlinear activation. Each APMR node consists of dual microring resonators with multiple phase shifters, enabling programmable phase modulation and wavelength-dependent nonlinear transfer functions without electronic conversions. To further enhance nonlinear expressiveness and stabilize optical training, two newly proposed techniques — Inverted-Residual Detuning (IRD) and Detuned Residual Skip (DRS) — are introduced and applied within the APMR-CNN architecture. The architecture integrates these optical activations directly into convolutional layers, forming an all-optical pipeline for feature extraction and classification. FDTD simulations verify strong resonance confinement at <span><math><mrow><mi>λ</mi><mo>=</mo><mn>1515</mn><mo>.</mo><mn>9</mn><mspace></mspace><mi>nm</mi></mrow></math></span> with <span><math><mrow><mi>Q</mi><mo>≈</mo><mn>1</mn><msup><mrow><mn>0</mn></mrow><mrow><mn>4</mn></mrow></msup></mrow></math></span>, confirming practical feasibility. The trained 2-ring APMR-CNN achieves <strong>98.27% accuracy on MNIST</strong> and <strong>90.23% on USPS</strong>, maintaining robust generalization across datasets with significantly fewer optical components. With a total footprint of <strong>0.2 mm</strong><span><math><msup><mrow></mrow><mrow><mn>2</mn></mrow></msup></math></span> and an inference energy of <strong>53 pJ/MAC</strong>, the design demonstrates superior compactness and scalability compared to conventional photonic and electronic accelerators. The proposed APMR-CNN can be used in compact optical AI chips for vision and communication tasks. Its small size and low energy make it suitable for real-time edge computing and hybrid photonic–electronic processors. This work highlights a practical route toward scalable, fast, and low-power photonic deep learning accelerators, bridging the gap between linear optical computing and nonlinear neural reasoning.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49699,"journal":{"name":"Photonics and Nanostructures-Fundamentals and Applications","volume":"70 ","pages":"Article 101524"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147399061","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-01-30DOI: 10.1016/j.photonics.2026.101520
Yasir Qasim Almajidi , Maher Abdulrazzaq Al-hakeem , Waleed K. Abdulsahib , Wael Waleed Mustafa , S. Renuka Jyothi , Priya Priyadarshini Nayak , J. Bethanney Janney , Gurjant Singh , Aashna Sinha , Djamila Polatova
Cancer remains one of the most common reasons for death worldwide, with conventional treatments facing constraints due to limitations such as off-target toxicity and resistance to treatment. The emerging field of nanotechnology, specifically in cancer treatment utilizing gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), offers a platform to overcome these difficulties. The optically unique properties of AuNPs dictated by localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) indicate their positive potential for photothermal therapy (PTT), which values the conversion of light energy into localized heat energy for destruction of cancer cells. The tunability of AuNPs for size and shape allows for optimization for significant absorption occurring in the tissue- penetrating window of the near-infrared, and a high degree of photothermal conversion efficiency. This review summarizes basic physicochemical and optical properties of some of the most common AuNPs including nanospheres, nanorods, nanostars, and nanocages utilized for cancer therapy and their direct effects on PTT results. Additionally, we will discuss presently emerging methods in the fabrication of AuNPs for multifunctional theranostic approaches involving such strategies as the synergetic co-combination therapies of plasmonic gold NPs habitually paired with chemotherapy and photodynamic therapy (PDT) to improve the results.
{"title":"Engineering plasmonic gold nanoparticles for synergistic photothermal cancer therapy","authors":"Yasir Qasim Almajidi , Maher Abdulrazzaq Al-hakeem , Waleed K. Abdulsahib , Wael Waleed Mustafa , S. Renuka Jyothi , Priya Priyadarshini Nayak , J. Bethanney Janney , Gurjant Singh , Aashna Sinha , Djamila Polatova","doi":"10.1016/j.photonics.2026.101520","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.photonics.2026.101520","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cancer remains one of the most common reasons for death worldwide, with conventional treatments facing constraints due to limitations such as off-target toxicity and resistance to treatment. The emerging field of nanotechnology, specifically in cancer treatment utilizing gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), offers a platform to overcome these difficulties. The optically unique properties of AuNPs dictated by localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) indicate their positive potential for photothermal therapy (PTT), which values the conversion of light energy into localized heat energy for destruction of cancer cells. The tunability of AuNPs for size and shape allows for optimization for significant absorption occurring in the tissue- penetrating window of the near-infrared, and a high degree of photothermal conversion efficiency. This review summarizes basic physicochemical and optical properties of some of the most common AuNPs including nanospheres, nanorods, nanostars, and nanocages utilized for cancer therapy and their direct effects on PTT results. Additionally, we will discuss presently emerging methods in the fabrication of AuNPs for multifunctional theranostic approaches involving such strategies as the synergetic co-combination therapies of plasmonic gold NPs habitually paired with chemotherapy and photodynamic therapy (PDT) to improve the results.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49699,"journal":{"name":"Photonics and Nanostructures-Fundamentals and Applications","volume":"70 ","pages":"Article 101520"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147399087","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-01-21DOI: 10.1016/j.photonics.2026.101507
Sanaz Zarei
Interferometer meshes are underpinning many new technologies for fully programmable optical circuits; however, their large footprint limits their scalability. Our investigations demonstrated a new approach for on-chip reconfigurable optical routing based on integrated one-dimensional Sb2Se3 phase change metasurfaces on the silicon-on-insulator (SOI) platform. In the presented scheme, silicon functions as the light guide, and Sb2Se3 provides the means for reconfigurability. Reconfiguration is achieved by the dynamic control over the refractive index of Sb2Se3 by selectively adjusting the crystalline phase of Sb2Se3. With a device footprint of 10 µm × 35 μm, the proposed router is more compact than Mach-Zehnder interferometer meshes, while providing a non-volatile and broadband reconfigurable paradigm for programmable optical flow control. A hybrid inverse design approach that combines machine learning and Genetic algorithm is utilized for programmable router design. Machine learning that is based on a Fourier-optics model combined with a gradient-based optimization method enables rapid exploration of the design space and provides a fast design candidate. Genetic algorithm exploits a full-wave electromagnetic solver for a more accurate structural modeling and fine-tunes the design generated by machine learning. The presented hybrid inverse design methodology leverages the speed and global search capabilities of machine learning with the precision and fine-tuning of the Genetic algorithm.
{"title":"Ultracompact, broadband and nonvolatile on-chip programmable optical router based on Sb2Se3 metasurfaces: A hybrid inverse design approach","authors":"Sanaz Zarei","doi":"10.1016/j.photonics.2026.101507","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.photonics.2026.101507","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Interferometer meshes are underpinning many new technologies for fully programmable optical circuits; however, their large footprint limits their scalability. Our investigations demonstrated a new approach for on-chip reconfigurable optical routing based on integrated one-dimensional Sb<sub>2</sub>Se<sub>3</sub> phase change metasurfaces on the silicon-on-insulator (SOI) platform. In the presented scheme, silicon functions as the light guide, and Sb<sub>2</sub>Se<sub>3</sub> provides the means for reconfigurability. Reconfiguration is achieved by the dynamic control over the refractive index of Sb<sub>2</sub>Se<sub>3</sub> by selectively adjusting the crystalline phase of Sb<sub>2</sub>Se<sub>3</sub>. With a device footprint of 10 µm × 35 μm, the proposed router is more compact than Mach-Zehnder interferometer meshes, while providing a non-volatile and broadband reconfigurable paradigm for programmable optical flow control. A hybrid inverse design approach that combines machine learning and Genetic algorithm is utilized for programmable router design. Machine learning that is based on a Fourier-optics model combined with a gradient-based optimization method enables rapid exploration of the design space and provides a fast design candidate. Genetic algorithm exploits a full-wave electromagnetic solver for a more accurate structural modeling and fine-tunes the design generated by machine learning. The presented hybrid inverse design methodology leverages the speed and global search capabilities of machine learning with the precision and fine-tuning of the Genetic algorithm.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49699,"journal":{"name":"Photonics and Nanostructures-Fundamentals and Applications","volume":"70 ","pages":"Article 101507"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146080780","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2026-01-12DOI: 10.1016/j.photonics.2026.101502
A.A. Aljulaih , R. Zheng , S.O. Gurbatov , A.A. Kuchmizhak , A.V. Shabalina , M. Hashida , S. Iwamori , S.A. Kulinich
This work reports on hybrid nanomaterial of ZnO and SnOx prepared via laser ablation of corresponding metals in water and its use for gas sensing. We demonstrate that a hybrid nanomaterial of these two semiconductor oxides can be conveniently prepared via ablating sequentially Zn and Sn metal plates in water by means of nanosecond pulsed YAG laser. The produced ZnO-SnOx nanomaterial was then characterized and annealed to reduce the amount of metallic Sn inclusions and promote the formation of composite material. Compared to its individual components, ZnO and SnOₓ nanomaterials which primarily responded to ethanol, the hybrid ZnO–SnOₓ nanomaterial exhibited enhanced selectivity and sensitivity toward ammonia. Notably, the sensor could respond to concentrations as low as 10 ppm, demonstrating a response time to NH3 of ∼70 s. These findings highlight the potential of the novel hybrid material for further optimization and improvement of its room-temperature gas-sensing performance.
{"title":"Room-temperature ammonia sensing by laser-produced nanohybrid of zinc and tin oxides","authors":"A.A. Aljulaih , R. Zheng , S.O. Gurbatov , A.A. Kuchmizhak , A.V. Shabalina , M. Hashida , S. Iwamori , S.A. Kulinich","doi":"10.1016/j.photonics.2026.101502","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.photonics.2026.101502","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This work reports on hybrid nanomaterial of ZnO and SnO<sub>x</sub> prepared via laser ablation of corresponding metals in water and its use for gas sensing. We demonstrate that a hybrid nanomaterial of these two semiconductor oxides can be conveniently prepared via ablating sequentially Zn and Sn metal plates in water by means of nanosecond pulsed YAG laser. The produced ZnO-SnO<sub>x</sub> nanomaterial was then characterized and annealed to reduce the amount of metallic Sn inclusions and promote the formation of composite material. Compared to its individual components, ZnO and SnOₓ nanomaterials which primarily responded to ethanol, the hybrid ZnO–SnOₓ nanomaterial exhibited enhanced selectivity and sensitivity toward ammonia. Notably, the sensor could respond to concentrations as low as 10 ppm, demonstrating a response time to NH<sub>3</sub> of ∼70 s. These findings highlight the potential of the novel hybrid material for further optimization and improvement of its room-temperature gas-sensing performance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49699,"journal":{"name":"Photonics and Nanostructures-Fundamentals and Applications","volume":"69 ","pages":"Article 101502"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146037764","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-12-20DOI: 10.1016/j.photonics.2025.101499
Elham A. Aldufeery
We theoretically investigated the plasmonic properties of aluminum-aluminum antimonide (Al-AlSb) core–shell nanorods, elucidating the influence of shell thickness and core geometry on their optical cross-sections and near-field enhancement. Through systematic computational analysis, we demonstrate that the plasmonic response is governed by the hybridization between the Al core plasmon and dielectric AlSb shell. This interaction yields a highly tunable, low-energy, bonding dipolar mode, whose localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) exhibits a pronounced and systematic redshift from the visible to the near-infrared (NIR) region with increasing shell thickness. Meanwhile, a high-energy, anti-bonding mode emerges in the ultraviolet (UV) spectrum, manifesting as a distinct spectral peak or shoulder with quadrupolar characteristics. The interplay between core dimensions and shell thickness provides a robust mechanism for tailoring these hybridized modes, enabling, for larger-diameter () rods, a dramatic, shell-induced enhancement of absorption that switches the system from a scattering- to an absorption-dominated regime. Moreover, the nanorods exhibited intense electric field enhancement at their tips, which was spectrally tuned by the shell thickness without significant quenching. These findings establish the Al-AlSb nanorods as a versatile platform for applications in surface-enhanced spectroscopy, photocatalysis, and advanced optoelectronic devices.
{"title":"Optical properties and localized surface plasmon resonance tuning of Al/AlSb core-shell nanorods","authors":"Elham A. Aldufeery","doi":"10.1016/j.photonics.2025.101499","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.photonics.2025.101499","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>We theoretically investigated the plasmonic properties of aluminum-aluminum antimonide (Al-AlSb) core–shell nanorods, elucidating the influence of shell thickness and core geometry on their optical cross-sections and near-field enhancement. Through systematic computational analysis, we demonstrate that the plasmonic response is governed by the hybridization between the Al core plasmon and dielectric AlSb shell. This interaction yields a highly tunable, low-energy, bonding dipolar mode, whose localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) exhibits a pronounced and systematic redshift from the visible to the near-infrared (NIR) region with increasing shell thickness. Meanwhile, a high-energy, anti-bonding mode emerges in the ultraviolet (UV) spectrum, manifesting as a distinct spectral peak or shoulder with quadrupolar characteristics. The interplay between core dimensions and shell thickness provides a robust mechanism for tailoring these hybridized modes, enabling, for larger-diameter (<span><math><mrow><mi>D</mi><mo>=</mo><mn>50</mn><mspace></mspace><mi>nm</mi></mrow></math></span>) rods, a dramatic, shell-induced enhancement of absorption that switches the system from a scattering- to an absorption-dominated regime. Moreover, the nanorods exhibited intense electric field enhancement at their tips, which was spectrally tuned by the shell thickness without significant quenching. These findings establish the Al-AlSb nanorods as a versatile platform for applications in surface-enhanced spectroscopy, photocatalysis, and advanced optoelectronic devices.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49699,"journal":{"name":"Photonics and Nanostructures-Fundamentals and Applications","volume":"69 ","pages":"Article 101499"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145799447","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-12-18DOI: 10.1016/j.photonics.2025.101498
Pan Li , Zhixin Cao , Yongxin Gai , Rongzhi Fu , Guoqiang Lan
This study presents a novel Ti-Si3N4 bilayer hole-array metamaterial absorber, surpassing traditional metal-insulator-metal (MIM) three-layer designs. Leveraging titanium’s optical losses and silicon nitride’s dielectric properties, it achieves 97.11 % average absorptance across 200–3000 nm, with polarization and angle insensitivity. Its simple bilayer structure enhances fabrication feasibility, while maintaining ∼90 % photothermal conversion efficiency at 1000 K (CF = 1000). Simulations reveal synergistic localized surface plasmon resonance, magnetic resonance, cavity modes, and inductor-capacitor effects driving ultra-broadband absorption. Outperforming existing designs in bandwidth and simplicity, this absorber is ideal for solar energy harvesting, photothermal conversion, and electromagnetic stealth.
本研究提出了一种新型的Ti-Si3N4双层孔阵列超材料吸收体，超越了传统的金属-绝缘体-金属（MIM）三层设计。利用钛的光学损耗和氮化硅的介电特性，在200-3000 nm范围内达到97.11 %的平均吸光度，具有极化和角度不敏感。其简单的双层结构提高了制造的可行性，同时在1000 K （CF = 1000）下保持~ 90 %光热转换效率。模拟揭示了协同局域表面等离子体共振、磁共振、腔模式和电感-电容效应驱动超宽带吸收。这种吸收器在带宽和简单性方面优于现有设计，是太阳能收集、光热转换和电磁隐身的理想选择。
{"title":"Overcoming MIM limitations: An ultra-broadband Ti-Si₃N₄ bilayer metamaterial absorber for solar energy harvesting","authors":"Pan Li , Zhixin Cao , Yongxin Gai , Rongzhi Fu , Guoqiang Lan","doi":"10.1016/j.photonics.2025.101498","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.photonics.2025.101498","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study presents a novel Ti-Si3N4 bilayer hole-array metamaterial absorber, surpassing traditional metal-insulator-metal (MIM) three-layer designs. Leveraging titanium’s optical losses and silicon nitride’s dielectric properties, it achieves 97.11 % average absorptance across 200–3000 nm, with polarization and angle insensitivity. Its simple bilayer structure enhances fabrication feasibility, while maintaining ∼90 % photothermal conversion efficiency at 1000 K (CF = 1000). Simulations reveal synergistic localized surface plasmon resonance, magnetic resonance, cavity modes, and inductor-capacitor effects driving ultra-broadband absorption. Outperforming existing designs in bandwidth and simplicity, this absorber is ideal for solar energy harvesting, photothermal conversion, and electromagnetic stealth.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49699,"journal":{"name":"Photonics and Nanostructures-Fundamentals and Applications","volume":"69 ","pages":"Article 101498"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145842149","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The thickness of the C60 electron-transport layer (ETL) is a crucial parameter in inverted MAPbI₃-based perovskite solar cells (p-i-n PSCs). However, the optimal thickness reported in the literature spans a wide range, often because of differences in device architecture, deposition method, and underlying layer morphology. Here, we present a systematic study of thermally evaporated C60 films of 15, 25, and 50 nm thicknesses, examining their impact on film morphology, charge-carrier dynamics, and PSC devices performance. Among the examined thicknesses, for the inverted MAPbI₃-based PSCs a 25 nm C60 layer achieves the optimal balance between resistance and current leakage. It maintains low surface roughness, accelerates charge extraction (126 ns), prolongs carrier recombination lifetime (664 ns), minimizes series resistance and maximizes shunt resistance, resulting in the highest average power conversion efficiency (PCE) (13.51 ± 1.18 %) and champion PCE (15.19 %) under AM 1.5 G. We identify three competing mechanisms that set the optimal C₆₀ thickness among the values we measured: incomplete surface coverage of the underlaying layer resulting in shunt resistance, increase of series resistance with the increase of the C60 thickness, and emerging of new shunt pathways due to defects formation in overly thick C60. The experimental results, obtained by AFM, transient spectroscopy and J–V characterization, highlight the critical role of ETL thickness in p–i–n devices and identify 25 nm C₆₀ as the best-performing thickness within the examined range, thereby defining the region to focus future optimization efforts.
{"title":"Optimizing C60 electron-transport layer thickness for improvement of charge dynamics and efficiency in inverted MAPbI₃ perovskite solar cells","authors":"Igor Margaryan , Xiaohan Chen , Daoyuan Han , Weiting Tang , Wenping Yin , Abolfazl Mahmoodpoor , Sergey Gaponenko , Sergey Makarov","doi":"10.1016/j.photonics.2025.101491","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.photonics.2025.101491","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The thickness of the C<sub>60</sub> electron-transport layer (ETL) is a crucial parameter in inverted MAPbI₃-based perovskite solar cells (p-i-n PSCs). However, the optimal thickness reported in the literature spans a wide range, often because of differences in device architecture, deposition method, and underlying layer morphology. Here, we present a systematic study of thermally evaporated C<sub>60</sub> films of 15, 25, and 50 nm thicknesses, examining their impact on film morphology, charge-carrier dynamics, and PSC devices performance. Among the examined thicknesses, for the inverted MAPbI₃-based PSCs a 25 nm C<sub>60</sub> layer achieves the optimal balance between resistance and current leakage. It maintains low surface roughness, accelerates charge extraction (126 ns), prolongs carrier recombination lifetime (664 ns), minimizes series resistance and maximizes shunt resistance, resulting in the highest average power conversion efficiency (PCE) (13.51 ± 1.18 %) and champion PCE (15.19 %) under AM 1.5 G. We identify three competing mechanisms that set the optimal C₆₀ thickness among the values we measured: incomplete surface coverage of the underlaying layer resulting in shunt resistance, increase of series resistance with the increase of the C<sub>60</sub> thickness, and emerging of new shunt pathways due to defects formation in overly thick C<sub>60</sub>. The experimental results, obtained by AFM, transient spectroscopy and J–V characterization, highlight the critical role of ETL thickness in p–i–n devices and identify 25 nm C₆₀ as the best-performing thickness within the examined range, thereby defining the region to focus future optimization efforts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49699,"journal":{"name":"Photonics and Nanostructures-Fundamentals and Applications","volume":"69 ","pages":"Article 101491"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145771911","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Dynamic wavefront modulation can enhance the performance of optical devices. The paper presents a tunable terahertz metasurface device based on the thermally induced phase transition of vanadium dioxide (VO) and a spin-decoupling mechanism, enabling temperature-responsive wavefront manipulation of circularly polarized waves. In the low-temperature phase, left-handed circularly polarized (LCP) and right-handed circularly polarized (RCP) waves excite vortex beams with topological charges of l = and l = , respectively; in the high-temperature phase, vortex beams with l = and l = are generated. Building upon this, a focusing functionality is introduced to achieve the synergistic control of vortex beam generation and beam focusing. Under LCP illumination, the phase transition of VO enables a dynamic switch from a focus in the low-temperature state to an l = vortex beam in the high-temperature state; under RCP illumination, it enables a transition from an l = vortex beam at low temperature to beam focusing at in the high-temperature state. The proposed design achieves a deep integration of thermal regulation, spin selectivity, and wavefront shaping, demonstrating great potential for applications in intelligent and reconfigurable terahertz devices.
{"title":"Multifunctional dynamically tunable metasurface for wavefront manipulation based on vanadium dioxide and spin-decoupling mechanism","authors":"Zepeng Zhao , Lijian Zhang , Xuyang Chen , Chuang Gao , Tianle Wei , Hua Guo , Tian Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.photonics.2025.101500","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.photonics.2025.101500","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Dynamic wavefront modulation can enhance the performance of optical devices. The paper presents a tunable terahertz metasurface device based on the thermally induced phase transition of vanadium dioxide (VO<span><math><msub><mrow></mrow><mrow><mn>2</mn></mrow></msub></math></span>) and a spin-decoupling mechanism, enabling temperature-responsive wavefront manipulation of circularly polarized waves. In the low-temperature phase, left-handed circularly polarized (LCP) and right-handed circularly polarized (RCP) waves excite vortex beams with topological charges of <em>l</em> = <span><math><mrow><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></math></span> and <em>l</em> = <span><math><mrow><mo>−</mo><mn>2</mn></mrow></math></span>, respectively; in the high-temperature phase, vortex beams with <em>l</em> = <span><math><mrow><mo>+</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></math></span> and <em>l</em> = <span><math><mrow><mo>+</mo><mn>2</mn></mrow></math></span> are generated. Building upon this, a focusing functionality is introduced to achieve the synergistic control of vortex beam generation and beam focusing. Under LCP illumination, the phase transition of VO<span><math><msub><mrow></mrow><mrow><mn>2</mn></mrow></msub></math></span> enables a dynamic switch from a <span><math><mrow><mn>1200</mn><mspace></mspace><mi>μ</mi><mi>m</mi></mrow></math></span> focus in the low-temperature state to an <em>l</em> = <span><math><mrow><mo>+</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></math></span> vortex beam in the high-temperature state; under RCP illumination, it enables a transition from an <em>l</em> = <span><math><mrow><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></math></span> vortex beam at low temperature to beam focusing at <span><math><mrow><mn>1800</mn><mspace></mspace><mi>μ</mi><mi>m</mi></mrow></math></span> in the high-temperature state. The proposed design achieves a deep integration of thermal regulation, spin selectivity, and wavefront shaping, demonstrating great potential for applications in intelligent and reconfigurable terahertz devices.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49699,"journal":{"name":"Photonics and Nanostructures-Fundamentals and Applications","volume":"69 ","pages":"Article 101500"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145885795","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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