Advances and Applications in Nanophotonics

Dear Colleagues,

Background Introduction: Nanophotonics, a key interdisciplinary field integrating nanotechnology and photonics, enables precise nanoscale light manipulation and drives breakthroughs in next-generation information systems, high-speed optical communication, and integrated photonic technologies. Rapid micro–nano fabrication advances have boosted demand for multi-band, high-efficiency compact photonic devices, bringing challenges like optimizing nonlinear conversion efficiency and cross-spectrum integration, along with unprecedented opportunities. Addressing these issues is critical for academic progress and practical applications in integrated circuits and new-generation information systems, making this research highly timely and significant. This Special Issue focuses on the latest nanophotonic advances and applications, aligning with the Guest Editors’ expertise. It spans fundamental studies (dielectric waveguides, frequency-mixing processes) and applied research (thin-film lithium niobate devices, multi-band electromagnetic regulation, integrated photonic chips), fostering cross-disciplinary exchanges and translating research into practical solutions to meet global photonics community needs. Nanophotonics provides a versatile platform for controlling light at subwavelength scales and has become increasingly important for integrated optics, nonlinear photonics, optical communications, sensing, and emerging information technologies. Recent advances in thin-film photonic materials, micro- and nanofabrication, heterogeneous integration, and electromagnetic nanostructures have enabled compact devices with enhanced light–matter interactions, broad spectral coverage, and improved functional integration. At the same time, several challenges remain, including efficient nonlinear frequency conversion, low-loss photonic integration, broadband electromagnetic control, scalable fabrication, and the integration of multiple optical functionalities on a single platform. Progress in these areas requires coordinated advances in materials, device architectures, fabrication technologies, and physical mechanisms. This Special Issue aims to highlight recent developments in nanophotonic materials, devices, and integrated platforms, with particular emphasis on nonlinear optics, thin-film photonics, metamaterials and metasurfaces, dielectric waveguides, optical microresonators, and photonic integration. Both fundamental studies and device-oriented research are welcome, including theoretical analysis, numerical modeling, fabrication, experimental characterization, and system-level demonstrations.

Aim and Scope: This Special Issue aims to present recent advances in nanophotonics, with emphasis on the control, conversion, and integration of optical and electromagnetic waves at micro- and nanoscale dimensions. Particular attention will be given to nonlinear frequency conversion, integrated photonic devices, thin-film electro-optic platforms, metamaterials and metasurfaces, dielectric waveguides, microresonators, and related light–matter interaction phenomena. We welcome original research articles and reviews addressing novel materials, physical mechanisms, device architectures, fabrication strategies, performance optimization, and emerging applications across the visible, near-infrared, mid-infrared, terahertz, and microwave spectral regions.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

1. Thin-film lithium niobate and related electro-optic photonic platforms: Optical modulation, nonlinear frequency conversion, frequency comb generation, and integrated devices;
2. Nonlinear nanophotonics: Second- and third-order nonlinear processes, harmonic generation, sum- and difference-frequency generation, four-wave mixing, and parametric processes;
3. Metamaterials and metasurfaces: Multi-band electromagnetic control, wavefront manipulation, nonlinear metasurfaces, and devices operating from the visible to microwave regimes;
4. Integrated photonic circuits: Modulators, photodetectors, wavelength converters, optoelectronic integration, and on-chip optical signal processing;
5. Dielectric waveguides and heterogeneous photonic integration: Waveguide design, dispersion engineering, mode control, and nonlinear optical applications;
6. Optical microresonators and whispering-gallery-mode devices: High-Q resonators, sensing, nonlinear optics, frequency combs, and microlasers;
7. Nanophotonic enhancement of light–matter interactions: Photoluminescence enhancement, quantum dots, perovskite nanomaterials, Purcell enhancement, and emission control;
8. Integrated and nanostructured laser systems: Solid-state microlasers, nanolasers, resonator-based lasers, and hybrid photonic laser platforms;
9. Emerging nanophotonic materials and devices: Novel optical materials, tunable and reconfigurable photonics, phase-change photonics, and emerging applications in sensing, communications, and information processing.

Dr. Xiaosong Lu
Prof. Dr. Congliao Yan
Prof. Dr. Song Zhu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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• nanophotonics
• thin-film lithium niobate
• nonlinear frequency conversion
• electromagnetic metamaterials
• integrated photonic chips
• terahertz communication
• dielectric waveguides
• frequency-mixing processes
• whispering gallery resonators
• optoelectronic integration
• multi-band photonic devices
• solid-state lasers
• high-speed information processing
• light-matter interaction
• micro-nano photonics
• quantum dot light-emitting diode
• reduced graphene oxide