Today’s quantum technology relies on the realization of large-scale non-classical systems in practical formats to enable quantum-accelerated computing, secure communications and enhanced sensing. Optical on-chip quantum frequency combs, characterized by many equidistantly spaced frequency modes, allow the storage of large amounts of quantum information. The combination with control techniques, using accessible state-of-the-art telecommunications infrastructure, can constitute a powerful frequency-domain quantum circuit with new functionalities and represents an approach towards realizing practical large-scale controllable quantum systems. In this presentation, we will review approaches for the efficient realization of quantum frequency combs in on-chip waveguide structures and micro-resonators. We will show their applicability for the realization of quantum systems with considerably enhanced complexity, particularly generating and manipulating on-chip multi-photon and high-dimensional quantum states as well as discrete high-dimensional cluster states, laying at the basis of measurement based-quantum computing. Building on this, the realization of frequency-domain Hong-Ou-Mandel interference of independent photons, fundamental to quantum information processing, as well as an outlook on frequency-domain circuits will be discussed.

Controlled and time-resolved growth of atomically thin monolayer transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) has long been demanded in the emerging field of two-dimensional (2D) materials. However, due to the complex precursor vaporization, mixing, and chemistry as well as random nucleation and ultra-long growth times in the common synthesis techniques such as CVD, understandings the growth kinetics and crystal evolution has been elusive. To address these challenges, here we introduce the laser-assisted synthesis technique (LAST), where a continuous wave CO2 laser is used for the time-resolved vaporization of bulk stoichiometric TMDC powders in a tube furnace under the growth substrate. This technique enables us to study growth dynamics down to a few milliseconds (10ms) along with the record highest growth rate (60μm/s) on a non-epitaxial substrate such as Si/SiO2 ever reported for TMDC mono- and few-layer single crystals.

Ιn the current work we will present the transfer hBN, MoS2 and Bi2Se3-xSx by using the Laser Induced Transfer technique on rigid and flexible substrates. We will exhibit the advantages of the certain technique, the resolution of the transferred pixels and the characterization methods such as Scanning Electron Microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and Atomic Force Microscopy. Furthermore, we will refer to the possible applications concerning the Bi2Se3-xSx and the hBN. Finally, we will support the experimental results with the corresponding theoretical results of ab initio Molecular Dynamics (AIMD) with main purpose to explain the detachment and the attachment of the 2D materials from the donor to the receiver substrate.

Arrays of nanoholes or nanochannels constitute the building block of integrated devices that open attractive applications like 2D photonic crystals, 2D metamaterials or nanostructured surfaces. Here we present a laser-based technique that enables to generate short-length micro-Bessel beams (irrespective of their core diameter) that we further use to machine depth-controlled holes with a cylindrical depth profile. We illustrate the potential of this method by fabricating square arrays of subwavelength-diameter holes with several-micrometers depth by direct laser ablation at the surface of fused silica.

4D printing has become a promising tool for the fabrication of dynamic and adaptive structures. Shape memory polymers (SMPs) – along with hydrogels and liquid crystal elastomers - have been established as core materials for 4D printing at the macroscale. However, SMPs have only been scarcely explored at the micro- and nanoscale. Herein, we establish a bridge between 4D macro- and microprinting of SMPs using different printing technologies. In particular, we present a system based on mixtures of mono and bifunctional acrylates bearing flexible and rigid groups. All printed structures exhibit excellent shape fixity and recovery properties.

Here we report the direct growth of hierarchically architectured molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) and tungsten disulfide (WS2) crystals on molybdenum and tungsten substrates through an innovative hybrid fabrication method involving laser structuring coupled with a sulfurization process. This laser surface modification process not only provides the ability to design specific micro/nanostructured patterns but also significantly enhances the sulfurization and MoS2 growth kinetics. The electrochemical performance of the architectured MoS2 and WS2 electrodes are investigated in a solid-state lithium-ion battery to demonstrated their enhanced functionality compared to their unstructured counterparts. The improved cycling performance is attributed to the open channels between the 2D layers and more space available for expansion/contraction due to Li-ion insertion and extraction.

Here we have developed a new additive nanomanufacturing (ANM) technique for printing multimaterial structures and patterns on flexible substrates. The ink formulations in the current printed electronics techniques such as inkjet printing and aerosol jet printing is a complex and impure process that limits their applications in printing multifunctional functional devices systems. Also, the required post-treatment processes after every printing make these techniques inefficient and costly. Our ANM technique addressed these challenges by producing various dry and solution-free nanoparticles, which will serve as the building block for printing different multifunctional materials and structures. The printed patterns demonstrate high electrical conductivity and good mechanical reliability, which highlights the promise of this ANM technique dry printing multilateral and flexible hybrid electronics.

Biosensor-based detection of pathogenic bacteria has gained attention since it could be fast, portable, cost effective and potentially easy to use. In this study, we investigated the detection of L. pneumophila using an antimicrobial peptide (AMP) and antibody (Ab) functionalized GaAs/AlGaAs biochips. The AMP attachment on GaAs surface was evaluated using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The peptide-related absorbance bands in IR (1588 cm^-1, 1653 cm^-1, and 1734 cm^-1) suggest the successful immobilization of AMP on GaAs. The bacterial capture efficiency/affinity on GaAs surface was evaluated for several peptides such as warnericin RK, clavanin, parasin, magainin, melittin and it was observed that the warnericin RK obtained ~4 times higher capture efficiency compared to the other peptides. We successfully detected L. pneumophila using AMP, as well as Ab conjugated GaAs/AlGaAs biosensors. The AMP functionalized biosensors, however, allowed higher sensitivity compared to Ab based bioarchitecture. The proposed AMP functionalized GaAs/AlGaAs biosensor is attractive for rapid and sensitive detection of L. pneumophila in water samples.

Laser pyrolysis of molecular precursors provides a powerful route to producing nanoparticles of materials that are difficult to produce by other means, including those that are highly susceptible to oxidation or have high melting and crystallization temperatures. It is also capable of producing metastable compositions and phases in many cases. This talk will summarize our work in advancing and applying laser pyrolysis for producing materials with photonic and biophotonic applications, including silicon quantum dots, plasmonic boron hyperdoped silicon nanocrystals, and rare-earth-doped upconverting nanophosphors with unique morphologies and dispersibility in a broad range of solvents.

We report the simultaneous synthesis and patterning of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) on and inside a transparent polymer, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), using a femtosecond laser. The irradiation of high repetition femtosecond laser pulses induces the formation of GQDs, which is attributable to the laser-induced pyrolysis of graphitic carbon sheets and/or silicon carbide nanocrystals. Furthermore, the patterning of a two-dimensional security tag with a concealed QR code, and a fluorescent three-dimensional design is demonstrated by adjusting the laser irradiation conditions. This work expands the possibilities of GQDs for applications in novel flexible three-dimensional optoelectrical devices.

In this work, we used the laser-ablated Titanium Nitride (TiN) nanoparticles as an exogenous contrast agent for lab-made PAM (Photoacoustic Microscopy) and PAT (Photoacoustic Tomography). The absorption spectra of the 50-100 nm-sized TiN nanoparticles confirmed the presence of a broad plasmonic band covering both parts of the visible and near-infrared (NIR) spectrum. The PAM system was used to image the TiN nanoparticles with a resolution of ~ 50 µm, underneath 1 mm chicken breast tissue. For the PAT results, lower resolution (~ 400 µm) was measured, but the penetration depth of 2 cm was observed.

The presentation will review our results on the development of plasmonic biosensor nanotranducers based on Fourier metamaterials, which promise orders of magnitude gain in sensitivity compared to state-of-the-art label-based and label-free biosensors

In this study, we demonstrate the potential application of 2D monolayer WSe2-based field-effect transistors (2D-FETs) as a promising biosensor for the selective and rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 in vitro. The sensors are manufactured by first growing the 2D crystals on Si/SiO2 substrates, followed by photolithography processes to form the FET devices. WSe2 crystals are then functionalized with a specific antibody to selectively detect the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. We demonstrate a detection limit of down to 25 fg/μL in 0.01 PBS. The TMDC-based 2D-FETs can potentially serve as sensitive and selective biosensors for the rapid detection of infectious diseases.