Nanophotonics

2024: Structures made of layered materials for nanophotonics will be presented by MIPT scientists

An international team of scientists from MIPT and Menoufia University (Egypt) has begun to develop an element base for photonic integrated circuits based on van der Waals materials. Innovative approaches will help improve the optical properties and functionality of nanophotonics devices, as well as develop new devices for integrated optics. MIPT announced this on August 5, 2024.

source = MIPT

The project "New two-dimensional and van der Waals materials: properties and promising applications" is an interdisciplinary study combining such areas as materials science, engineering, technologies for the manufacture and transfer of nanoscale samples obtained from layered materials, as well as from artificial systems created using van der Waals heterostructures. The main result of the project will be the creation of a new element base for nanophotonics, for example, multifunctional metasurfaces, nanoscale waveguides and resonance structures for integrated photonics based on van der Waals materials.

The scientific director from the MIPT is Sergey Novikov, a leading researcher and head of the laboratory of controlled optical nanostructures. Professor of Radiation Physics and Materials Science Yasir S. Ramma will oversee the work of the research group at Menufiy University. Research is funded by a research grant Ministry of Education and Science in conjunction with organizations. countries Africa In total, the project will unite the efforts of 30 researchers. 

The Russian side takes on part of the work that is related to the verification of the results obtained during theoretical research at Menufiy University. This approach will optimize the development of new promising devices based on van der Waals materials. 

The synergy lies in the fact that Fiztech has expertise in the field of both fabrication and the subsequent experimental study of structures that have a certain perspective in nanophotonics. On the side of Egypt, respectively, is the implementation of the theoretical part of the study. The project itself is dedicated to new approaches in the field of non-traditional semiconductor materials based on layered structures. Everyone has heard about two-dimensional material - this is graphene. But this is just a drop in the ocean, one of the names among a wide class of materials. Among them, there are also materials such as transition metal dichalcogenides, which also have a number of interesting properties. The main property that determines the uniqueness of two-dimensional materials is the atomic thickness of these structures, "said Alexey Bolshakov, director of the Center for Photonics and Two-Dimensional Materials.

The novelty of the project lies in the concept of creating high-index particles and resonance structures based on layered materials in order to achieve high localization of optical radiation. Of particular interest is the development of waveguides for highly efficient transmission of light and its spatial localization. These innovative approaches will help improve the optical properties and functionality of nanophotonics devices, as well as develop new devices for integrated optics. 

The grant project "New two-dimensional and van der Waals materials: properties and promising applications" will be implemented over the next two years. The total amount of financing will be 20 million rubles.

2023

In Russia, created a nanoscale fiber for computers of the future

In Russia, created a nanoscale fiber for computers of the future. This project was told at the beginning of July 2023 at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology. Read more here.

Russian scientists have studied the optical properties of the material, which can become the basis for developments in the field of nanophotonics

Physicists MIPT from studied the optical properties of boron nitride (an indispensable component for two-dimensional materials) and found that it had an optimal refractive index in ultraviolet light. This means that the material can become the basis for developments in the field of nanophotonics, in particular, replace electronic components in integrated circuits. computers To demonstrate the practical use of boron nitride scientists , a nanometer waveguide was constructed that showed optimal efficiency. The work is published in the journal Materials Horizons. This was announced on June 5, 2023 by representatives of the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.

As reported, photonic devices transmit information using photons and can soon replace electronic ones, since light moves much faster than electrons, and when the signal propagates, there is no loss and heating due to the resistance of the conductor material. However, the minimum size of the photon elements is limited by the wavelength of the transmitted light. To create nanometer devices, it is necessary to use materials that transmit ultraviolet waves, the length of which is less than 300 nanometers. Moreover, the material must have an optimal refractive index to further compress the wave, and be accessible: inexpensive and easy to manufacture. Physicists from MIPT are looking for compounds that satisfy all these conditions.

Georgy Ermolaev

The refractive index is very important in photonics. The higher it is in the material, the higher the efficiency of the devices made from it, the easier it is to control the light. Thanks to this, a whole area of ​ ​ research is actively developing - highly refractive materials. told Georgy Ermolaev, researcher at the Center for Photonics and 2D Materials at MIPT

In the latest work, Fiztech scientists investigated the optical properties of hexagonal boron nitride hBN and found that it had an optimal refractive index in the ultraviolet region. Physicists also developed optical elements based on boron nitride: a nanometer waveguide and a chiral mirror.

Despite the use of the material in two-dimensional nanophotonics and optoelectronics, its optical properties have been studied over a fairly narrow wavelength range. This is partly due to the small size of boron nitride samples, making experimental measurements difficult. Physicists from MIPT were able to determine the refractive index and anisotropy of matter over a wide range from 250 to 1700 nanometers using ellipsometry and scanning optical microscopy. The maximum value of the refractive index in ultraviolet light over a length of 250 nanometers was 2.75, which makes it possible to create photon elements of the order of tens of nanometers. Such miniature devices can be used in photonic integrated circuits of computers instead of electronic components.

To show the practical possibilities of boron nitride, physicists designed a 40-nanometer waveguide - a channel that carries light. Computer simulations showed that light in the waveguide propagates practically without optical loss, without fading. Also, scientists have created a model of a chiral mirror from boron nitride - a device that reflects polarized light twisted in one direction and transmits light twisted in the other. The mirror will help distinguish biomolecules that have the same composition and structure, but are asymmetrical. For example, such a device is needed in pharmacology, since the described chiral molecules can have various properties.

Low optical loss, optimal anisotropy index and refraction in ultraviolet light make boron nitride a promising material for creating nanophoton devices.

Ultraviolet nanophotonics is in its infancy in 2023: you need to reduce the wavelength of light in order to reduce the size of photon devices. We have shown that boron nitride is a suitable platform for this, since, in addition to the optimal refractive index, it also has optical anisotropy, which also increases its effectiveness. And low optical losses allow transmission information over long distances with little or no attenuation. We have finally found a bridge that would allow the transition electronic engineers from photonics, that is, to take advantage of the photon over the electron. For June 2023, we are working to show these capabilities in a real photon integrated circuit. commented Georgy Ermolaev

See also

• Nanotubes
• Nanosprings
• Nanolattices
• Nanocrystals
• Nanoparticles in medicine
• Nanofibers in medicine
• Nano-films of boron nitride