Advances in Micro-Nano Optical Manufacturing

Dear Colleagues,

The field of micro-nano optical manufacturing has witnessed transformative progress in recent years, driven by the urgent need for subwavelength-scale optical components and systems across photonics, biomedical sensing, and quantum technology applications. Breakthroughs in nanoscale fabrication methodologies, ultra-precision metrology, and functional material engineering are enabling unprecedented control over light–matter interactions at micro-nano dimensions. This Special Issue highlights cutting-edge innovations in micro-nano optical manufacturing technologies, with a particular focus on bridging fundamental research to industrial-scale implementations. Key areas of interest include, but are not limited to, the following: advanced nanolithography techniques (e.g., multi-photon lithography, nanoimprint replication), functional micro-optics fabrication (including metasurfaces, photonic crystals, and hybrid plasmonic devices), precision characterization methods for sub-100 nm features, and system-level integration strategies for wafer-scale optical systems. Emerging topics such as quantum dot/nanorod manufacturing, AI-driven process optimization, and 3D-printed micro-optical arrays are particularly encouraged.

We believe that this collection of articles will serve as a valuable resource for those interested in micro-nano optical manufacturing and its applications. We hope that it will inspire further innovation and collaboration in the field, leading to new perspectives and breakthroughs in micro-nano optical manufacturing. It is within this context that we announce the Special Issue of Photonics on ‘Micro-Nano Optical Manufacturing’.

This Special Issue intends to provide a timely opportunity for scientists, researchers, as well as engineers to discuss and summarize the latest inspection methods in industrial applications. We invite papers that include, but are not exclusive to, the following topics: micro-nano manufacturing, optical component, nanoscale fabrication technologies, process-characterization co-design, optical design, image fusion, defect inspection, machine learning, metasurface manufacturing, ultra-precision machining, machine vision, functional optical materials, precision measurements and metrology, freeform design, manufacturing technology, opto-mechanical design, additive micro-optics, and advanced optical manufacturing and detection. Both theoretical and experimental studies are welcome, as are comprehensive reviews and survey papers.

Dr. Shuo Qiao
Dr. Xing Peng
Dr. Xiao Shen
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. Photonics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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.

• micro-nano manufacturing
• optical component
• nanoscale fabrication technologies
• process-characterization co-design
• optical design
• image fusion
• defect inspection
• machine learning
• metasurface manufacturing
• ultra-precision machining
• machine vision
• functional optical materials
• precision measurements and metrology
• freeform design
• manufacturing technology
• opto-mechanical design
• additive micro-optics
• advanced optical manufacturing and detection