About this Research Topic
Responsive optical nanomaterials can exhibit unique optical signals, in the form of observable changes in appearance and variations in spectral line shapes, when being exposed to various external stimuli. Thanks to observable color changes and various spectral detection techniques, they are among the most active research areas in nanooptics. They are intensively exploited within the regime of different classic optical phenomena—diffraction in photonic crystals, localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of plasmonic nanostructures, absorption of color-switching systems, refraction of assembled birefringent nanostructures, and emission of photoluminescent materials. Recently, these have been of great interest in developing novel responsive optical nanomaterials for sensing, detection, optical devices, biomedicine, and anti-counterfeiting.
The goal of this Research Topic is to become the reference point for recent advances in the general design principles and specific technical developments of creating diverse stimuli-responsive optical nanostructures. This Research Topic will focus on how recent progress can overcome the drawbacks of existing optical nanomaterials and inspire further research in the creation of next-generation devices, sensors, and theranostic agents. Although the working mechanisms of these optical phenomena are different, they may share similar experimental designs for achieving desirable optical responses. Therefore, this Research Topic will also aim to fill the gap between these existing working mechanisms in recent research activities, and offer opportunities to recognize the fundamental and critical parameters that can be used for achieving pre-designed optical responses on demand.
We welcome submissions of Original Research, Review, Mini-Review, and Perspective articles, on themes including, but not limited to:
• Synthesis, characterization, and theoretical consideration of novel responsive optical nanostructures
• Determination of critical parameters and rational design of diverse stimuli-responsive optical nanostructures
• Synthesis of novel active plasmonic nanostructures and investigation of their mechanism
• Self-assembly of nanostructures into responsive photonic crystals
• Design of next generation responsive devices based on tunable liquid crystals
• Applications of novel responsive optical nanostructures in detection, anticounterfeiting, biomedicine, and optical devices
The goal of this Research Topic is to become the reference point for recent advances in the general design principles and specific technical developments of creating diverse stimuli-responsive optical nanostructures. This Research Topic will focus on how recent progress can overcome the drawbacks of existing optical nanomaterials and inspire further research in the creation of next-generation devices, sensors, and theranostic agents. Although the working mechanisms of these optical phenomena are different, they may share similar experimental designs for achieving desirable optical responses. Therefore, this Research Topic will also aim to fill the gap between these existing working mechanisms in recent research activities, and offer opportunities to recognize the fundamental and critical parameters that can be used for achieving pre-designed optical responses on demand.
We welcome submissions of Original Research, Review, Mini-Review, and Perspective articles, on themes including, but not limited to:
• Synthesis, characterization, and theoretical consideration of novel responsive optical nanostructures
• Determination of critical parameters and rational design of diverse stimuli-responsive optical nanostructures
• Synthesis of novel active plasmonic nanostructures and investigation of their mechanism
• Self-assembly of nanostructures into responsive photonic crystals
• Design of next generation responsive devices based on tunable liquid crystals
• Applications of novel responsive optical nanostructures in detection, anticounterfeiting, biomedicine, and optical devices
Keywords: optical materials, nanostructures, color, responsive materials, smart responses
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
