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        <title>Frontiers in Photonics | Optical Nanostructures section | New and Recent Articles</title>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/photonics/sections/optical-nanostructures</link>
        <description>RSS Feed for Optical Nanostructures section in the Frontiers in Photonics journal | New and Recent Articles</description>
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        <pubDate>2026-05-13T19:03:42.56+00:00</pubDate>
        <ttl>60</ttl>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphot.2025.1685128</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphot.2025.1685128</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Mach–Zehnder interferometers incorporating electrochromic molecules for controlled single-photon detection]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-01-05T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Francesco Scotognella</author>
        <description><![CDATA[One particularly fruitful research in the fields of integrated photonics, carried out by a good number of physicists and engineers, concerns the study of different types of materials to be used to control the detection of photons, if not just single photons, in interferometers. In a Mach–Zehnder interferometer, which consists of two beam-splitters, two mirrors, and two detectors, a material that can cause a controlled change in the phase of light in one of the two arms of the interferometer consequently allows control of the probability of detection at the two detectors. In this work, we use an electrochromic molecule, N,N′-bis(cysteine)pyromellitic diimide (BCPD), that has a refractive index dependent on the applied electric field. We simulate the single-photon detection probability in a Mach–Zehnder interferometer with direct light transmission and a waveguide-based Mach–Zehnder interferometer, consisting of two 3-dB couplers connected by two optical channel waveguides. With the employment of the non-equilibrium Green’s function formalism, we have simulated the conductance of BCPD. The results could be of interest in quantum communication.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphot.2025.1535015</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphot.2025.1535015</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Optical and electrical properties of thiarubrine A simulated via the Hückel method and the nonequilibrium Green’s function]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-03-13T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Francesco Scotognella</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionThiarubrine A, a fascinating class of linear carbon chains, can be extracted from certain plants and are known for their photolabile pigment properties.MethodsIn this study, a modified Hückel method to investigate the optical properties of thiarubrine A has been employed, determining its absorption spectrum and wavelength-dependent complex refractive index. Additionally, using the nonequilibrium Green’s function formalism, the conductance of a single thiarubrine A molecule has been derived.Results and discussionLight absorption, complex refractive index dispersion, and conductance of thiarubrine A have been simulated. Exploiting its photolability, a light-induced switch in single-molecule conductance has been demonstrated through ultraviolet-visible irradiation, which produces a photoproduct containing a thiophene group. These findings enhance our understanding of the optical properties of naturally occurring polyynes and highlight their potential applications in single-molecule junctions for nanoelectronics.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphot.2024.1363223</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphot.2024.1363223</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Advancements in microemulsion-based fabrication of upconversion-mediated multifunctional materials]]></title>
        <pubdate>2024-02-02T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Mini Review</category>
        <author>Yi Zhang</author><author>Qingsong Mei</author><author>Zhen Zhang</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) have experienced significant advancements, finding applications in diverse fields over the past decade. The growing demand for UCNP-based nanoplatforms with multifunctionality to address complex scenarios has led to the emergence of the microemulsion confined self-assembly method, which allows for the integration of different UCNPs or UCNPs with additional functional materials within a single entity, resulting in a nanoplatform that possesses a wide range of properties suitable for specific applications. This comprehensive review aimed to summarize recent developments in the design of UCNP assemblies using the microemulsion confined self-assembly method, which focused on exploring their applications in critical areas such as color encoding, bioimaging, and programmable therapeutics. Furthermore, the review acknowledged the existing limitations associated with the microemulsion confined self-assembly method and provided an in-depth discussion of potential solutions to overcome these challenges, aiming to foster further progress and innovation in the design and application of UCNP assemblies.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphot.2023.1234060</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphot.2023.1234060</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Dielectric metasurfaces for refractive index sensing towards anemia detection]]></title>
        <pubdate>2023-07-17T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Dhananjoy De</author><author>R. Vijaya</author>
        <description><![CDATA[In this article, an all-dielectric metasurface-based refractive index sensor is proposed in the near-infrared wavelength regime. The sensor employs well known magnetic dipole and electric dipole resonances for sensing. We have also computationally demonstrated that sensitivity and figure of merit of the sensor can be enhanced by increasing the interaction between the electromagnetic field and the surrounding medium using a suitable design modification. The proposed improved sensor can be used in anemia detection and also to measure its progress as proposed in this work.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphot.2023.1081521</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphot.2023.1081521</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Vanadium oxide metal-insulator phase transition in different types of one-dimensional photonic microcavities]]></title>
        <pubdate>2023-03-17T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Francesco Scotognella</author>
        <description><![CDATA[The optical properties of vanadium dioxide (VO2) can be tuned via metal-insulator transition. In this work, different types of one-dimensional photonic structure-based microcavities that embed vanadium dioxide have been studied in the spectral range between 900 nm and 2000 nm. In particular, VO2 has been sandwiched between: i) two photonic crystals made of SiO2 and ZrO2; ii) two aperiodic structures made of SiO2 and ZrO2 that follow the Thue-Morse sequence; iii) two disordered photonic structures, made of SiO2 and ZrO2 in which the disorder is introduced either by a random sequence of the two materials or by a random variation of the thicknesses of the layers; iv) two four material-based photonic crystals made of SiO2, Al2O3, Y2O3, and ZrO2. The ordered structures i and iv show, respectively, one and two intense transmission valleys with defect modes, while the aperiodic and disordered structures ii and iii show a manifold of transmission valleys due to their complex layered configurations. The metal-insulator transition of VO2, controlled by temperature, results in a modulation of the optical properties of the microcavities.]]></description>
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