Quantum Materials Field
Photonics Nano-Engineering Group

Photonics Nano-Engineering group focuses on the study of novel functionalities originating from interfacial electronic/vibronic excitations and photonic properties in nano and micrometer-scale systems

Group Leader: Tadaaki Nagao

Surface nanotechnology and material science for sensing and photoenergy applications

Current Topics

We realized a narrowband thermal emitters when it is fabricated with refractive dielectrics and highly conductive refractory boron-based ceramics that can sustain well above 1000 deg C. The combination with appropriate perfect absorber design and low-loss metals will open a new avenue for innovative technologies not only in true-temperature thermography, but also create industry seeds for low-temperature rapid heating by material-specific infrared heaters.
Fig. 1. Thermal emitter based on boron-based low-loss plasmonic ceramics and refractory dielectric multilayer device.

Outline of Research

We study rational design of the devices and synthesis of wavelength conversion and photoenergy converted devices adopting lithographic dielectric nanostructures and chemical nano-synthesis routes. For example we study high-sensitivity and precise sensing methods working in the near to the mid infrared region, including surface-enhanced infrared spectroscopy supported by all-dielectric nanophotonic materials. We also develop infrared photothermal spectroscopic devices as well as UV and NIR photodetectors and light emitres.
Fig. 2. Schematics of nano-structured high-sensitivity bio sensors and photothermal converters working in the mid-to-near infrared and ultraviolet region.

References

  1. B. K. Barman, D. Hernández-Pinilla et al., Advanced Science 11(41) , 2407090 (2024). DOI: 10.1002/advs.202407090
  2. B. K. Barman, Hiroyuki Yamada, Keisuke Watanabe et al., Advanced Science 11(30) , 2400693 (2024). DOI: 0.1002/advs.202400693
  3. B. K. Barman, D. Hernández-Pinilla et al., ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 16(17) , 22312 (2024). DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c18035
  4. K. Watanabe, H. R. Devi, M. Iwanaga, and T. Nagao, Adv. Opt. Mater. 12(6) , 2301912 (2024). DOI: 10.1002/adom.202301912

Group members

  • Profile image
    Tadaaki Nagao
    ・Group Leader
  • Profile image
    Wataru Hayami
    ・Principal Researcher
  • Profile image
    Keisuke Watanabe
    ・Researcher

Activities

  • Jul 13, 2024
    Microbeads with Adaptable Fluorescent Colors from Visible Light to Near-Infrared
  • Jul 22, 2024
    The Collaborative Research Achievement by Barun Kumar Barman, NIMS Postdoctoral Researcher, Tadaaki Nagao, Group Leader and Their Collaborators Featured in the Media
  • Oct 15, 2024
    Joint workshop LANL/NIMS Quantum and Functional Materials and MANA International Symposium 2024
  • Nov 6, 2024
    Two postdoctoral researchers in the Quantum Materials Field have received the "Young Researcher Prize"

Quantum Materials Field Nanomaterials Field Independent Researcher Satellite Principal Investigator