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Structures and Light–Matter Interactions in Low-Dimensional Materials

A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Optical and Photonic Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 October 2026 | Viewed by 166

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Physical Science and Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710129, China
Interests: nonlinear optics; ultrafast spectroscopy; structured light fields

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Guest Editor
School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S3 7RH, UK
Interests: two-dimensional materials; nonlinear optics; ultrafast optical spectroscopy; exciton polaritons

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The realm of low-dimensional materials provides a uniquely tunable platform for exploring and manipulating light–matter interactions at the quantum level. Advances in fabricating and engineering these structures—from monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) and van der Waals heterostructures to emerging moiré superlattices—are continuously unveiling novel optical phenomena. This Special Issue, “Structures and Light–Matter Interactions in Low-Dimensional Materials,” seeks to highlight the latest breakthroughs at the intersection of atomic-scale structure design and both linear and nonlinear optical properties.

We welcome the submission of cutting-edge research and review articles that explore how tailored structures govern light–matter coupling. Key focus areas include the following:

Exotic exciton physics (e.g., interlayer excitons, trions, and biexcitons) and valleytronics in atomically thin semiconductors.

Moiré engineering and twistronics for controlling optical selection rules, nonlinear harmonic generation, and the emergence of correlated quantum states.

Nonlinear optical processes, such as strong-field phenomena, high-harmonic generation, and ultrafast saturable absorption, are enabled by low symmetry and quantum confinement.

Quantum photonics applications, including the design of single-photon emitters and integrated quantum light sources based on defects and strain engineering in 2D materials.

Active nanophotonic devices leveraging these interactions for next-generation optoelectronics, sensing, and on-chip information processing.

This collection will highlight how precise structural control—through stacking, strain, defect engineering, and dielectric environment tailoring—could lead to unprecedented optical functionalities. We aim to provide a forum containing the latest discoveries that are shaping the future of low-dimensional material photonics, including ultra-compact modulators, on-chip light sources, quantum light emitters, and photonic-integrated circuits.

Prof. Dr. Yi Zhang
Dr. Yadong Wang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Materials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • light–matter interaction
  • low-dimensional materials
  • heterostructures

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Published Papers

This special issue is now open for submission.
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