Lebedev Institute of Physics

2025

Development of record effective infrared materials for optoelectronics and laser equipment

Russian scientists have created complexes based on ytterbium metal with organic molecules, demonstrating record-breaking near-infrared luminescence efficiency. The new materials provide a quantum efficiency of up to 7% at a wavelength of 980 nanometers, which is twice the performance of known analogues. The development is intended for use in optoelectronics, laser technologies and biomedicine, where highly efficient infrared phosphors are required. The results of the study are published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences in August 2025.

According to Kommersant, innovative compounds were synthesized by specialists from the P.N. Lebedev Physical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University and the Institute of Spectroscopy of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The study was supported by a grant from the Russian Science Foundation.

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Фото: Freepik

The complexes are compounds of trivalent ytterbium ions with organic ligands capable of emitting in the infrared range when exposed to ultraviolet radiation in the range of 350-390 nanometers. Conventional similar materials exhibit a quantum yield of no more than 3.5%.

As organic components, the researchers used derivatives of pyrazolone, a heterocyclic compound containing carbon, nitrogen and oxygen atoms. Auxiliary ligands with phosphorus or arsenic atoms are also included in the structure of the complexes to increase efficiency.

Scientists have discovered a fundamentally new mechanism for energy transfer in synthesized compounds, significantly different from the processes described in the scientific literature. The key role in energy transfer is played by charge transfer states that arise when the molecule is excited by light and exist due to the transfer of electrons between ligand molecules.^[1]

An electronic nanolithograph for the production of X-ray optics has been developed and began to be used in Russia

Specialists of the P.N. Lebedev Physical Institute have developed a modernized installation of electronic nanolithography for the manufacture of domestic components of X-ray and diffraction optics. The new system was created on the basis of the Soviet electronic nanolithograph and is already used for the production of high-tech elements. This was announced on July 4, 2025 by the head of the Trinity Separate Division of the FIAN, Vice-President of the International Commission on Optics, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Andrei Naumov. Read more here.

2024: Russian scientists have proven the effectiveness of three-level quantum systems - cutrites

Scientists of the University of MISIS, the Russian Quantum Center, FIAN named after Lebedev and MIPT demonstrated the performance of three-level quantum systems - cutrites at once on two types of domestic quantum processors - superconductor and ion. With the help of cutrites, the researchers simulated a non-equilibrium phase transition of violation of parity and time symmetry. Such symmetry is broken if an isolated physical system begins to interact with the surrounding world, while losing some of its energy. This was announced on April 1, 2024 by representatives of the University of MISIS. Read more here.

2023: Scientists advance in making lenses of the future

Physicists from MIPT and Lebedev Institute of Physics presented an updated diagram for the production of microscopic devices in the form of a combination of aspherical microlens and an array of microlenses obtained by two-photon lithography. The obtained results have a wide range of applications in the production of complex optical devices, optimized micro-lenses for high-precision measurement of wave front curvature and the manufacture of refractive X-ray lenses. The work is published in the journal Physics of Wave Phenomenena. This was announced on November 21, 2023 by representatives of the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology. Read more here.

2022: Study of direct laser recording of nanosensors

On May 6, 2022 scientific , employees of the Faculty of Nanoelectronics ITMO University reported that together with colleagues from the FIAN, RKHTU named after D.I. Mendeleev NRNU MEPHI and conducted a study in which they found out that nanoarrays have high spectral selectivity. Their layers can be used as wavelength-specific filters, and up to six layers can be recorded on a single glass plate. Thanks to this technology, scientists have implemented dispersion birefringent filters, which can be used in various ways: for example, to create biochemical sensors for diagnosing the flow of bacteria or displays added virtual reality and with a color image. More. here