Prospects of Nanoscale Optical Materials in Sensor Technology
A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991). This special issue belongs to the section "Nanoelectronics, Nanosensors and Devices".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 February 2026
Special Issue Editors
Interests: optical thermal sensors; rare earth spectroscopy; high-entropy ceramics; glass-ceramics; inorno–organo hybrids
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: photoluminescence; rare earths; phosphors; sensors; glass science; halide pervoskites; chalcogenide sensors
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
2. Instituto de Telecomunicações, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
Interests: optical fiber sensors; ehealth plaforms; biosensing; structural health monitoring
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: optical fiber sensors; interferometry; micro-structured optical fibers; physical and chemical sensing; energy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Nanoscale optical materials are transforming the landscape of sensor technology, offering unparalleled advantages such as enhanced sensitivity, quick response times, compact size, and high selectivity. Among these materials, fluorescent quantum dots and metal nanoparticles have emerged as especially promising candidates. Their unique tunable optical properties and strong plasmonic responses make them ideal for real-time, high-precision sensing applications. The integration of these materials with optical fiber systems further extends their potential by enabling remote, non-invasive sensing with a significantly improved accuracy and responsiveness. This convergence of nanotechnology and photonics opens up new frontiers in both fundamental research and practical applications.
This Special Issue, entitled “Prospects of Nanoscale Optical Materials in Sensor Technology”, aims to highlight cutting-edge developments in the design, synthesis, and integration of optical nanomaterials with fiber technology for sensing applications. This Special Issue will encompass a wide range of topics, including, but not limited to, the following:
Design and synthesis:
- Fluorescent quantum dots;
- Plasmonic nanostructures;
- Two-dimensional optical materials;
- Organic–inorganic hybrid structures;
- Photonic crystals;
- Metamaterials.
Sensor systems employing:
- Microfluidics and lab-on-chip platforms;
- Label-free biosensing;
- Ultrasensitive detection;
- Environmental sensing.
By bringing together interdisciplinary research and technological innovations, this Special Issue seeks to provide a comprehensive overview of recent advancements and future directions in nanostructured optical materials for sensing. Work that places a special emphasis on the integration of nanostructures into optical fibers is also welcome. Researchers and practitioners working at the interface of nanotechnology, photonics, chemistry, materials science, and biomedical engineering are encouraged to contribute to this impactful collection.
Dr. Pavani Krishnapuram
Dr. Suresh Kumar Jakka
Dr. Paulo Fernando da Costa Antunes
Dr. Marta Sofia dos Anjos Ferreira
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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
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. Nanomaterials 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 2400 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
- optical sensors
- luminescent materials
- fluorescent biomarkers
- plasmonic effects
- metal nanoparticles
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
