Application of biomimetic approaches to nanophotonic systems
Harvest, conversion and guiding of light is one of the influential achievements of science to date, resulting in development of telescopes, lasers, microscopes and optical communication fibres to name but a few. Correspondingly, the realisation of such critical processes, with high efficiencies and on nanoscales has monumental implications for future technologies including, but not limited to, integrated photonic circuitry.
Light-activated systems found in nature are prime examples of such nanoscale control of light. For example, within a few tens of nanometres, a membrane of a bacterial photosynthetic system includes several types of light-harvesting complexes, providing collection and a directional transfer of energy, and a transducing element, responsible for conversion of that energy to a different form.
Of great interest to me is the possibility to transpose the principles found in such naturally-occurring systems to analogous man-made materials and devices, with particular emphasis on the application of these principles to optical nanoantennas.
Selective localisation of materials with nanoscale precision
Delivery and control of active materials to key locations is one of the greatest challenges of today. Progress in this area is key for development of future technologies.
My current research in this area focuses on selective localisation of QDs in the hotspots of nanoantennas using dielectrophoretic or chemical approaches, combining various localisation techniques for fabrication of structurally complex systems and the development of cost-effective localisation methods using convective and capillary forces.