Surface lattice resonance (SLR) plays a pivotal role in biosensing and nanophotonics owing to its high quality factor (Q-factor) and strong near-field localization. However, conventional SLR devices face critical bottlenecks including non-tunable optical responses, limited functional integration, and complex tuning strategies, which severely hamper their applications in complex scenarios. In this work, we report the fabrication of a sandwich-structured microfluidic chip featuring a periodic gold nanorod array (GNA) as the core optical element. This device realizes multimodal sensing integration under flexible regulation: resonance tuning via RI regulation in the absence of dyes, high-sensitivity refractive index (RI) sensing with fixed near-infrared dyes, and fluorescent dye discrimination with visible dyes. Furthermore, it can generate laser emission under optical pumping, demonstrating great potential for wavelength-encoded sensing. Experimental results demonstrate that within the RI range of 1.46–1.50, the SLR resonance peak exhibits a continuous and reversible tuning range of 18 nm, with a sensing sensitivity of 450 nm/RIU and a figure of merit (FOM) of 37.5. The fluorescent dye discrimination mode exhibits a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.1 µmol/L and is capable of discriminating between different fluorescent dye molecules. Finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations verify that the device can generate laser emission under 800 nm femtosecond laser pumping. Within the RI range of 1.46–1.52, the laser wavelength tuning range reaches 14 nm, with an encoding sensitivity of 233 nm/RIU. This work establishes a comprehensive modulation framework covering flexible regulation, SLR mode manipulation, and multimodal sensing integration, and clarifies the physical mechanism rooted in the long-range coupling and strong near-field localization of SLR. This work provides a novel strategy for the development of multimodal integrated photonic devices, fluorescent dye detection, and high-sensitivity RI sensing systems.

Higher resolution and higher throughput are the relentless pursuits of lithography technologies for continued downscaling of semiconductor devices 1 . While the cutting-edge lithography technique for semiconductor manufacturing has evolved into extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUVL) 2, 3 , there is still no foreseeable lithography techniques for post-EUVL 4 . Electron lithography, as a candidate for post-EUVL, exhibits higher resolution (down to sub-2 nm 5-7 ) than that of EUVL, but encounters the main challenge of low throughput due to the trade-off between resolution and throughput resulting from the adoption of electron optics systems 8, 9 . Here, we report a diffuse electron projection lithography (DEPL) by adopting a wide diffuse electron beam in air as the exposure source and patterned monolayers of Au nanoparticles as the contact mask. Without the adoption of electron optics systems, the resolution and throughput of DEPL are decoupled and can be optimized independently. A minimum feature size of 4 nm and a throughput of 15 4-inch wafers per hour have been demonstrated by DEPL, with a potential throughput up to 532 12-inch wafers per hour. The outstanding features of high resolution, high throughput, and freedom from electron optics and ultrahigh vacuum systems make DEPL a promising and cost-effective lithography technique for post-EUVL.

Bottom-up fabrication of colloidal nanopattern arrays provides a scalable and cost-effective pathway toward functional photonic devices, yet the inherent randomness of self-assembly introduces defects that may impair optical performance. Here, we quantitatively assess the influence of microscopic disorder on far-field light scattering by combining dark-field measurements with momentum-space (Q-space) analysis. A theoretical model incorporating random defects in large-area arrays (>2000 nanostructures) reproduces the experimental spectra with excellent fidelity. We find that the dark-field response is dominated by peripheral disordered scatterers, while contributions from the ordered interior are negligible. Remarkably, the arrays tolerate defect probabilities up to 25% for monotype defect and 40% for mixed type defect, maintaining nearly invariant peak positions despite a ∼50% reduction in first-order diffraction intensity. Moreover, interstitial defects are shown to degrade optical fidelity more severely than vacancies and dislocations at comparable disorder levels. These results establish a quantitative foundation for defect-tolerant design in self-assembled photonic systems, addressing a central challenge for scalable, low-cost photonic device manufacturing.

Black phosphorus (BP) exhibits application potential in optoelectronics owing to its unique physical properties, particularly in the mid-infrared (MIR) region. However, the low quantum yield of BP limits its application in MIR light-emitting devices. We introduced BP into a resonance nanocavity based on a nanoplates-on-mirror (NPoM) array structure. By combining the advantages of both gap modes and surface plasmon polariton (SPP) resonance modes, BP-NPoM array enables a near-field intensity enhancement of 8000 within the nanocavity while maintaining a quality factor (Q factor) of 331. This enhancement improves the collection efficiency of pump energy in BP and is conducive to the realization of lasing. We theoretically demonstrate the lasing capability of BP-NPoM array and identify the factors that influence its lasing threshold. When applied to gas refractive index sensing, the BP-NPoM array demonstrates a sensitivity of about 3785.55 nm/RIU and figure of merit about 540.79 RIU− 1. Our work provides insights into the design of high-quality 2D material-metal hybrid optoelectronic devices and highlights their potential for mid-infrared applications.

Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) offer tremendous prospects in the field of ultimate nanolasers due to their large exciton binding energies and atomic-scale thickness. The integration of TMDCs and plasmonic systems provides great potential for further miniaturization of device footprints. However, limitations in plasmon-exciton interactions and losses in plasmonic structures have restricted advancements in device performance. This study introduces a heterostructure that combines pretreated WS2 with Au microplate gratings, which provides a low-loss platform that reduces non-radiative recombination. By optimizing the structural parameters, we enhance the coupling between excitons and surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs), effectively improving the coupling strength approximately threefold, which tends toward the strong coupling region. Furthermore, by utilizing the plasmonic bound states in the continuum (BIC), we achieve room-temperature stimulated emission amplification with nanosecond-pulsed pump powers exceeding 2.59 MW/cm2. Our findings provide a practical strategy for developing on-chip coherent light sources based on monolayer two-dimensional (2D) semiconductor-plasmonic structures, offering valuable insights into the interactions between plasmons and excitons. (c) 2025 Optica Publishing Group. All rights, including for text and data mining (TDM), Artificial Intelligence (AI) training, and similar technologies, are reserved.

Photocatalysis has been extensively researched as a promising environmental technology in the past years. Despite great efforts have been made in catalyst engineering, the core challenge in the photocatalytic process still lies in achieving efficient light absorption and interfacial carriers' transfer. In this study, we propose a "self-floated" interpenetrating fiber system for photothermal-assisted triphase photocatalysis, consisting of commercial P25-TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) and carbon black (CB) NPs by employing hydrophobic polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) fibers as support. The photons beyond the bandgap of P25-TiO2 NPs are converted to facilitate a localized heating effect which promotes free radical reaction, meanwhile a fast oxygen diffusion is realized at the solid (photocatalysts)-liquid(water)-gas(air) triphase interface by functionalizing surface of fibers. Removal of the polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) component facilitates exposure of hydrophilic P25-TiO2 NPs on the hydrophobic PMMA fibers. This, in turn, enhances the wetting properties and increase the specific surface area available for photocatalytic reaction. Based on the photothermal effect, effective exposure of the catalytic active sites and construction of the triphase reaction interface, the proposed system exhibits ∼19 times increase of first-order kinetic reaction rate constant (k) for salicylic acid (SA) degradation. The interpenetrating fibers also perform superior stability over 10 times cycling tests with a degradation efficiency >90 % and feasible use of sunlight, demonstrating potentials for scale-up photocatalytic applications by combing with a large-scale and convenient electrospinning.

Hybrid heterojunction solar cells based on poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT: PSS) and silicon (Si) have attracted considerable interest due to their potential for high efficiency, low-cost materials, and facile fabrication. However, their performance is often limited by suboptimal spectral management and interfacial recombination. In this study, we present an optimized dual-layer PEDOT: PSS (PH1000) architecture, incorporating ethylene glycol (EG) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) dopants in films with thicknesses of ≥ 110 nm and ≥ 60 nm, respectively. This bilayer configuration enhances light absorption, reduces Fresnel reflection, and improves charge extraction through tailored interfacial engineering. The resulting device demonstrates reduced Fresnel reflection, significant increase in Voc and Jsc due to the customized PEDOT: PSS architecture owing to improved charge extraction and reduced recombination losses. The device with dual-layer PEDOT: PSS film exhibits a significantly higher Voc of 604.8 mV and Jsc of 16.57 mA/cm2 without any additional adaptations. Additionally, it has a fill factor of 61.03

Imparting vivid colors to photovoltaic devices has traditionally required sacrificing power conversion efficiency, a trade-off that limits their adoption in building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) and other aesthetics-driven applications. Here, we overcome this constraint by integrating short-range correlated disordered dielectric nanostructures onto high-efficiency organic-silicon heterojunction solar cells. These wavelength-scale nanospheres act dually to suppress broadband specular reflection, thereby enhancing light harvesting, and to generate coherent off-specular scattering that yields iridescent structural colors. To explore this mechanism, we developed a large-scale theoretical framework that decouples collective disorder from single-particle scattering responses, enabling quantitative prediction of the color-efficiency interplay in assemblies of more than 2000 nanoparticles. Experimentally, the iridescent device achieves a power conversion efficiency of 8.17%, compared with 7.3% for the reference device without PS nanospheres, while exhibiting high-saturation CIE 1931 color coordinates. This work demonstrates that vivid coloration does not require strong reflection, overturning the long-standing efficiency-aesthetics trade-off and opening pathways to next-generation BIPV that combine performance with visual appeal.

The controllable polarity switch between positive photoconductance (PPC) and negative photoconductance (NPC) in a photodetector is essential for the realization of versatile, innovative applications. Incorporating polarity-switching photoconductance with other response states, yet still posing challenges, allows for encoding multidimensional distinguishable optical information within a single device, which holds great potential for broadening application scope. Herein, three wavelength-controlled photoresponse modes are present in MoS2-based field effect transistor with lightly doped Si substrate by combining positive/negative photocurrent polarities with slow/fast response speeds. Specifically, a slow PPC response at 520 nm, along with fast bipolar infrared responses (NPC at 980 nm, PPC at 1310 nm), is integrated within a single MoS2 device. The opposite sub-bandgap infrared photoresponses are ascribed to the synergism of the bolometric effect and interfacial photogating, influenced by electrons photogenerated in Si. Based on the triple polarity-switching characteristic of the MoS2 device, the triple-channel real-time secure optical communication system with time-variable encryption algorithms is demonstrated, exponentially increasing the difficulty of brute-force cracking by synchronizing the time-variable key channel with two information channels. This work not only enhances the understanding of sub-bandgap photoresponse mechanisms in 2D material photodetectors but also offers promising avenues for the development of optoelectronics-assisted wireless communication technologies.

As a typical 2-dimensional material, molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) has atomic thickness in longitudinal size, showing unique optical and electrical properties. MoS2 has become a research hotspot in the field of photodetection. The properties of MoS2 devices are highly dependent on their material characteristics, device structures, and fabrication techniques. Therefore, their photoresponse characteristics may be determined by multiple physical effects, which contribute to the development of MoS2-based broadband photodetectors. Here, we present an experimental study on the broadband MoS2 photodetector ranging from 410 to 1,550 nm, obviously wider than that of conventionally reported MoS2 photodetectors. Our results indicate that the performance of the MoS2 device is dependent on the fabrication procedures. Under the optimal process, the maximum responsivity is 33.75 A W−1 and the corresponding specific detectivity is 6.1 × 1011 cm Hz1/2 W−1 at 480-nm illumination. Through a series of electrical and optoelectronic experimental analysis, the working mechanisms of multiband photoresponse of the MoS2 device are clarified.

Integrating metal nanostructures with two-dimensional (2D) material photodetectors has been demonstrated that can greatly improve device performance owning to various extraordinary optoelectronic phenomena. For example, metal nanostructures are served as ideal plasmonic materials to maximize local electromagnetic fields leading to light absorption of 2D materials. In this work, other than the widely reported plasmonic effects, we discover the contribution of metal nanostructures in charge transport engineering in 2D material photodetectors, which is important but always ignored in previous studies by others. Notable improvements of carrier mobility and carrier concentration attributing to the integration of sparsely distributed Ag@SiO2 core-shell nanoparticles on the MoS2 detector were experimentally established, originating from reduced carrier scattering and interfacial gating. Consequently, a 1.5-fold broadband (400-1100 nm) uniform photocurrent enhancement was observed, which was entirely derived from the improved charge transport. These findings open up a new research perspective for the precise identification and objective evaluation of different effects of metal nanostructures on optoelectronic devices.

In current research on the synthesis of colloidal nanostructures, the size and morphology of nanoparticles still exhibit certain dispersion and variation from batch to batch. Characterization of size distribution and morphology distribution of nanoparticles often requires techniques such as scanning electron microscopy or transmission electron microscopy, which involve high vacuum environments, are time-consuming, and costly. Experienced researchers can roughly estimate the size and distribution of nanostructure from spectra for a given synthetic route, but the accuracy is often limited. This paper reports the potential of using neural networks to accurately predict the composition of colloidal nanostructures from spectra. We address several fundamental issues in neural network prediction of colloidal composition. We first demonstrate the prediction of the composition of a colloidal binary mixture of gold nanoparticles using a gated recurrent neural network (GRU). The evolution of prediction errors for scattering, absorption, and extinction spectra of nanostructures with sizes ranging from 5 to 120 nm are analyzed. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the neural network model operates robustly under white noise in experimental testing scenarios. Compared to fully connected neural networks, the gated recurrent unit exhibits better testing accuracy in spectral prediction. When confronted with experimental data that deviates from simulation outputs, minor adjustments to the training set can allow the predictions to align closely with the experimental spectra, paving the way for the characterization of complex colloidal compositions with artificial intelligence.

Photonic nanostructures have achieved nanoscale optical field modulation and ultra-low refractive index effects that traditional thin film materials cannot reach, providing a new direction for optical management and carrier management of photovoltaic devices. Dielectric nanostructures can reduce the surface light reflection of photovoltaic devices, similar to traditional antireflection films. Therefore, dielectric nanostructures are usually equivalent to the equivalent refractive index theory at the macro level. However, the macroscopic refractive index equivalent cannot reflect the manipulation ability of nanoscale light fields, and the influence of the nanoscale light field distribution on the photo-carrier generation and transport is usually ignored. Here, we introduce the self-assembly process of dielectric nanostructures on photovoltaic devices, which may lead to the controllable assembly of the density and number of layers on polycrystalline silicon solar cells. Based on this strategy, we investigate the enhancement effect of SiO2 nanosphere coating on textured silicon solar cells by systematically changing assembly conditions. Research has found that tightly packed SiO2 nanosphere monolayers generate a maximum relative efficiency improvement of 9.35%. This efficiency increase is attributed to the simultaneous enhancement of short-circuit current density and fill factor, which is different from the antireflection effect reported previously. Further, through semiconductor simulations, we theoretically analyzed the impact of nanoscale light focusing on the performance of photovoltaic devices. We explored the reasons for the changes in photocurrent, fill factor, and efficiency, providing ideas for more efficient nanoscale light focusing design and improving the performance of photovoltaic devices in the future.

A facile and cost‐effective approach based on oxygen‐plasma treatment is developed for silicon‐organic hybrid solar cells. By precisely forming a sub‐3 nm SiO x layer at the silicon‐poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) interface with a 10 s oxygen‐plasma treatment, the power conversion efficiency is boosted from 0.02% to 8.18%, 409‐fold increase compared to solar cells with untreated silicon. Utilizing X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Kelvin probe force microscopy, and density‐functional theory, the device physics and mechanisms are revealed from an atomic‐level perspective. The control of interface by oxygen‐plasma treatment reduces the surface work function of Si and introduces an electron barrier, facilitating the transfer of hole carriers from Si to organic materials while effectively blocking electron transmission. This mechanism proves to be highly beneficial in mitigating carrier recombination and promoting the separation of electrons and holes. This approach can be applied to interface optimization for high‐performance photovoltaic and other optoelectronic devices.

Well-designed nanostructures enable increased light trapping, reducing the loss of single-pass absorption and providing precise control over the microscale optical field, offering promising opportunities for developing next-generation high-efficiency solar cells. However, whether efficient carrier management in photovoltaic devices can be achieved by controlling electromagnetic field distribution using nanostructures remains elusive. In this study, we conducted simulations to investigate this issue and demonstrated the mechanism of micro- and nano-scale optical focusing in suppressing carrier recombination and enhancing the efficiency of silicon solar cells. By keeping the optical absorption of the silicon solar cell unchanged, under microscale light focusing conditions, we observed a relative 15.3% increase in the short circuit current compared to the Lambert law, resulting in a relative efficiency enhancement of 16.3%. Analysis of energy band, carrier density, recombination current, drift and diffusion current, and carrier mobility were conducted to reveal the recombination suppression mechanism. These findings comprehensively explain previously reported experimental results using wavelength-scale dielectric nanospheres to enhance the silicon solar cell efficiency. Furthermore, the implementation of nano-scale optical focusing offers the potential to significantly reduce the thickness of the device while maintaining high efficiency.

Mix-dimensional heterostructures of colloidal quantum dots (QDs) and two-dimensional (2D) layered materials have attracted growing interest in photodetection due to the combination of high optical absorption and superior charge transport characteristic. However, the QD sensitizing layer usually introduces uncontrolled doping to the 2D materials originating from the capping ligands, which deteriorates the gate modulation capability and interfacial charge transfer efficiency. In this work, we demonstrated that the photoresponse of MoS2/QD hybrid phototransistor was greatly enhanced by selecting ligand treatment strategy. The carrier concentration and mobility in MoS2 could be effectively tuned via surface doping of 3-mercaptopropionic acid ligand, resulting in high on-off current ratio and low dark current of around 10 pA. The signal-to-noise ratio was improved by three orders of magnitude compared to the pristine MoS2 devices, indicating a dramatically enhanced photoresponse sensitivity. The specific detectivity reached 3.1 x 1013 Jones at the illumination power of 2.3 mW/cm2. The photoresponse speed of the hybrid device was enhanced by about 100 times, owing to the effective interfacial charge transfer which was revealed by the photoluminescence quenching and optoelectrical characterizations. Our work may push a new path to design the interface of mix-dimensional heterostructure and develop high-performance electronic and optoelectronic devices.

Interface plays an important role in photovoltaic devices, due to the existence of surface defects and surface dangling bonds of semiconductor materials. For photovoltaic devices, defects on the surface of semiconductor materials can lead to the recombination of charge carriers at the interface and hinder the transport of carriers in the device, resulting in the degradation of device performance. We presented a simple and efficient method of interface treatment by oxygen plasma for PEDOT:PSS/silicon hybrid solar cell. Compared to the cell without oxygen plasma treatment, the cell with oxygen plasma treatment revealed a significant increase in power conversion efficiency (PCE), which resulted in interface control by oxygen plasma control can be able to effectively optimize the performance of organic-silicon hybrid solar cell.

Plasmon mediated heterojunction with tunable and superior photoelectrical performance is an intriguing approach to improve light harvesting in photocatalysis. However, the low separation efficiency and uncertain diffusion directions of charges remained still a challenge to meet desired photocatalytic process. To overcome these issues, in this work, we showed the crystal-phase-dependent effects of the semiconductor for hot-electrons transfer assisted by plasmonic heterostructures under visible light by using Au–P25 as a model. It was found that Au–P25 formed by Au-anatase-rutile was greatly advantageous over that of Au-rutile-anatase for the hot-electrons separation and transportation (∼3 folds increase in photocurrents density). Such differences may account for the suitable band alignment mediated by selective crystal phase contact, which forming a convenient pathway for fluent electrons transfer caused by the smaller interfacial energy barrier in Au-anatase-rutile, comparing to that in Au-rutile-anatase. Such results might offer some useful contributions to the future design of nanomaterials for plasmon-mediated photoelectrical or photochemical applications.

In this work, a flexible Janus composites membrane fabricated by large-scale electrospinning, a rapid plasma etching process, and reproducible surface modification is proposed for stable and efficient solar desalination. The upper hydrophobic plasmonic absorbers are used for effective solar absorption while the bottom hydrophilic polymer layer is for water supply and salt resistant. The heat stability and cycle tests demonstrate their superior performance for steam generation (energy conversion efficiency with 76.06% under 6 sun and stable water output with 7.533 kg m- 2 h-1). Such Janus membrane provides an alternative way for direct solar desalination, which is achieved by a scalable and cost-effective process.

Two-dimensional (2D) materials have become more advantageous compared with traditional semiconductor materials for fabrication of modern photodetectors operating at room temperature and possessing small volume and low power consumption. However, the weak absorption caused by atomic thickness severely limits the performance of photodetectors employing 2D materials as active channels. Plasmonic nanomaterials can manipulate light at subwavelength scale and have been viewed as a powerful tool to achieve enhanced photoresponse in semiconductor devices. In this review, the rational design strategies of plasmon-enhanced 2D material photodetectors are comprehensively introduced, where the hybrid nanostructures are classified based on different coupling modes between plasmonic nanostructures and 2D materials. This review has a great chance to provide an instructive reference for understanding and engineering plasmonic effects toward high-performance 2D material photodetectors.