Project Leader: Dr. Dawid Piątkowski, Prof. NCU
Modern photonics allows us to understand and manipulate phenomena related to the interaction of light with matter. In our project, we employ the most advanced microscopy technologies to surpass the natural limitations associated with light emission at the nanoscale.
The luminescent nanomaterials under investigation are structures thousands of times smaller than the diameter of a human hair, which, when appropriately excited, can emit light. These materials are increasingly used in medical diagnostics, cancer therapy, photovoltaics, sensing, and optical information processing. However, their application potential is still not fully realized due to inherent limitations, such as low quantum efficiency, photochemical instability, and suboptimal emission dynamics.
The aim of the project is to develop modern technologies that enable the modification of optical properties of advanced luminescent nanomaterials beyond their natural limits, adapting them for innovative application solutions. To achieve this, we will use optical microcavities—microscopic resonators that allow control over the quantum-mechanical properties of the nanomaterials placed within them at the most fundamental level. By consciously “managing light” around a single nanoemitter, we will be able to significantly enhance emission intensity, control luminescence lifetimes, tune the frequency of emitted light, and even improve imaging resolution.
Our research will focus on three groups of materials: (1) photosynthetic complexes—systems modeling solar energy conversion processes in plants, (2) anti-Stokes nanocrystals—used, among others, in biomedical diagnostics and sensing, and (3) optical switches—unique molecules that can function as molecular memory or light-controlled microswitch elements. Our goal is to create technologies and tools that unlock their application potential and provide unique guidance for modifying their synthesis processes.