Emerging NanophotonicsEnvironment

Emerging
Nanophotonics-
Environment
Subha. R
Senior Research Fellow,
CSIR
Department of
Environmental sciences
Overview
Photonics
Nanophotonics
Need for nanophotonics
Tools of nanophotonics
Applications
Market Products
Challenges
Future trends
Recent issues
Photonics
"Photonics" comes from "photon" which is the
smallest unit of light just as an electron is the
smallest unit of electricity. "Photonics is the
generation, process and manipulation of photon
Photonic
to achieve components
a certain function.
-semiconductors
-organic polymers and dyes
-non linear and photorefractive crystals
-optical fibers
Technological challenges
-Critical requirements on size (sub-nanometer)
and material composition
-lack of uniformity (with some exceptions)
-very different device structures (3D to 0D) and
manufacturing procedures
-specific packaging requirements for each
device structure
Expensive infrastructures(growth, processing,
What is Nanophotonics?
Science of Light-Matter
Interaction at Nanometer scale
(< 1 micron to ≥ 1 nm)
Cont…
Light matter interactions – Light wavelength and

sub-wavelength scales, determined by physical, chemical
and structural nature of artificially or natural
nanostructured matter.
Potential to provide ultra small optoelectronic
components, high speed and greater bandwidth
Devices could open the way for mass production future
light handling devices – 10s or 100s of nm in size.
The main driving force- to access the molecular scale
dispensing with electrical contacts.
Natural examples of nanophotonics
Feathers Butterfly wings
ZnO Photoreceptor
nanoparticles in rhodopsin
peacock feathers
Early examples of nanophotonics
Aniline Purple, Perkins, Diffraction
1853 Gratings,
Rowland, 1882
Thin Film Coatings, Smakula, 1935
limited … today’s fabrication tool kit is much more ex

Nanophotonics can be divided into
three parts
1. Nanoscale confinement of Radiation
Example: Near-Field confinement of radiation by
squeezing light through nanoscale apertures
Used for Near-Field Microscopy to resolve below the

Far-Field Diffraction Limit. Also used for Near-Field
Optical/UV Lithography.
2. Nanoscale confinement of Matter
Nanoscale Crystals are used for:

-Optical Upconversion of radiation in Rare-Earth
Nanocrystals.
-Size-dependent Emission properties of nanoscale
semiconductor crystals (Quantum dots or Q-dots)
Metal nanoparticles and nanotips used in Surface

Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy
Photonic Bandgap Crystals and Photonic Bandgap

Fibers (Photonic Fibers) involve periodic variation of
dielectric constant over wavelength-scale.
Applications: Fabrication of MOEMS (Micro Opto

Electro Mechanical Systems), Micro-Optics, i.e.
Microlasers, Directional Couplers between
waveguides, Biophotonic Chips etc.
3. Nanoscale Photoprocesses
Examples: Nanoscale Lithography, Fabrication

of Nanoscale Structures, Nanoscale Optical
Memories
Foundations for Nanophotonics
Basic Equations describing propagation of photons in
dielectrics has some similarities to propagation of
electrons in crystals
Similarities between Photons and Electrons
Wavelength of
Light
Wavelength of Electrons,
Maxwell’s Equations for Light
1 ∂D − 1 ∂B
∇xH = ∇xE =
c ∂t c ∂t
Eigen value Wave 1 ω2

∇x ∇xB(r ) = 2 B (r )
Equation: ε (r ) c
-describes the allowed frequencies of light
Schrodinger’s Eigenvalue Equation for Electrons:
h2
−( 2) -describes
4π [∇.∇ + V (r )]ψ (r ) = Eψ (r ) allowed energies
2m of electrons
Need For Nanophotonics
Current Fabrication methods – expensive, high-tech

such as projection, Lithography and extreme UV-
Lithography
The level of emerging nanopatterning methods –

large scale production, cost effective and
environmental friendly
Molecular memories in which information's can be

stored and retrieved form single molecule and
molecular arrays
Potential is limitless
Ability to combine the length scales of light with

those of electrons and phonons providing flexibility
for hybrid optical systems.
Tools for Nanophotonics
Self-assembled bio-molecular
templates
Achieved: self-assembled
structures made by binding
proteins onto nodes of self
assembled DNA scaffold.
Now being pursued to
make ordered arrays of
metallic nano-particles and
ordered arrays of
fluorophores.
DNA can be fabricated
with predetermined
sequence so offering a
programmable templating
tool.
Nanophotonics for Biotechnology and
Nanomedicine
In principle this can be accomplished by
embedding the fluorophores inside transparent
shells of glass etc. Being small, the nanoparticles
can flow with the bloodstream without
interrupting any process. The example below
illustrates how such nanoparticles can be used for
bioimaging tissues or cellsThewith a specificinvolves
technique protein
(here A). immobilizing antibodies
for protein A on the
nanoparticle surface.
These nanoparticles will
attach only to protein A.
Illumination with a light
source of suitable
wavelength will reveal
the site of protein A
with a characteristic
Bioimaging with Nanoparticles
Radioactive Nanoparticles as tracers to detect drug pathways or imaging by Positron
Emission Tomography (PET), and Ultrasonic Imaging. For MRI, the magnetic nanoparticles
could be made of oxide particles which are coated with some biocompatible polymer.
Newer Nanoparticle Heterostructures have been

investigated which offer the possibility of imaging
by several techniques simultaneously. An
example is Magnetic Quantum Dot.
Nanophotonic Systems
Nanophotonic systems
work with light signals
vs. electrical signals in
electronic systems
Enable parallel
processing that means
higher computing
capability in a smaller
chip
Enable realization of A silicon processor
optical systems on featuring on-chip
semiconductor chip nanophotonic network –
IBM Corp., 2008
Nanophotonics for Solar cells
Nanotechnology has the potential to
allow solar cells to be more efficient &
thinner, both of which make solar cells
cheaper
Conventional solar cells are made from
silicon wafers, top surface is covered
with pyramids, the pyramids reduce the
reflection and trap the light inside the
solar cell (Fig a)
Metal nanoparticles & nano structured
surfaces can be used to increase amount
of light absorbed in solar cell
Fig b shows the intensity of the
electromagnetic field around a nano
scale metal cylinder as it scatters light
into a thin silicon solar cell
Fig c& d-metal particles 100 nm across
taken with SEM
Market size for application
Challenges in Nanophotonics
Single-molecule addressing (pre-requisite for
architectures work).
– Optical nanoscopy of molecules
– Molecular state read out & Molecular logic.
Assessment of nanowires in nanophotonics.

- Hierarchy of interactions with other quasi- particles
-Energetically sound 10’s of KT/function
-Amplification and gain
-Integration, costs, standards, etc
Complete technologies in competition to conventional

technologies
Sensitivity to molecular environment and contamination

Challenges facing Nanoparticles
in nanophotonicss
Size and chemistry control – properties

Interface chemistry control – embedding
Toxicology
Compatibility with established device and
System platforms – integration
Up scaling and cost.
Leading to:
-Assessment of nanoparticles in
nanophotonics
Future trends……
Researchers will use organic photovoltaic with
nanoparticle loaded polymer to build energy
harvesting devices-solar cells & organic light
emitting devices
Development of new & better materials allowing
tailored light matter interactions
Interaction between photons & plasmons and
between photons and phonons-impact in variable
length communicating system
PHOREMOST will integrate the activities to
–Overcome fragmentation
–Ensure efficient use of resources
–Identify future R & D oppurnuties
–Ensure the excellence in research translates in life
sciences, environment & security
–Contribute to public understanding of science
To achieve this objectives.. A network can
incorporate nanostructures in microsystems,
fabricating novel nanostructured materials
Recent issues….
Technical Conference on "Integrated
Photonics and Nanophotonics Research
and Applications (IPNRA)" held on July 12-17
2009, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
PHOREMOST team has submitted a report on

“Nanophotonics to Realise Molecular scale
technologies” on December 2008
Symposium EE: “Materials for nanophotonics,

plasmonics, Metamaterials and Light localisation”
2009 Spring meeting held on April 14-17 2009,
Material Research Society, USA
Champion for nanophotonics
Clivia M. Sotomayor Torres is the
ICREA research Professor at Catalan
Institute for Nanotechnology, Barcelona.
She is also Coordinator of the EU
Network of Excellence. She has
cocordinated with 35 laboratories in
European research in both fundamental science
and applied science.
The group has released is road map for “Emerging
Nanophotonics” combining it expertise and views – 5 to
15 years
Use of nanoimprint lithography to fabricate 2D polymer
photonic crystals doped with quantum dots
Nanoimprinting to fabricate bimetallic nano electrodes
fro organic photovoltaic
References
• www.innovations-report.com/html
• solar.anu.edu.au/research/nano.php
• www.osa.org/meetings/topicalmeetings/IPNRA/
• www.czech-
in.org/enf2009/ppt/C2_Sotomayor_Torres_Y.pdf
• www.swinburne.edu.au/feis/cmp/.../nanophotonics.ht
ml
• bharatbook.blogactiv.eu
• www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories
• nanophotonics.st-and.ac.uk/EPIX/partners
• www.marketsandmarkets.com/.../global-
nanophotonic-market-
• nanoigert.rice.edu/graduate.cfm
• www.nature.com/nphoton/.../nphoton

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Emerging

Light matter interactions – Light wavelength and

Thin Film Coatings, Smakula, 1935

limited … today’s fabrication tool kit is much more ex

Used for Near-Field Microscopy to resolve below the

Nanoscale Crystals are used for:

Metal nanoparticles and nanotips used in Surface

Photonic Bandgap Crystals and Photonic Bandgap

Applications: Fabrication of MOEMS (Micro Opto

Examples: Nanoscale Lithography, Fabrication

Eigen value Wave 1 ω2

Schrodinger’s Eigenvalue Equation for Electrons:

Current Fabrication methods – expensive, high-tech

The level of emerging nanopatterning methods –

Molecular memories in which information's can be

Ability to combine the length scales of light with

Newer Nanoparticle Heterostructures have been

Assessment of nanowires in nanophotonics.

Complete technologies in competition to conventional

Sensitivity to molecular environment and contamination

Size and chemistry control – properties

PHOREMOST team has submitted a report on

Symposium EE: “Materials for nanophotonics,

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