Optical sensors are indispensable devices for collecting and transforming information in the era of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT). In scientific research, these sensors provide invaluable insights into many physical phenomena, as they rely on the fundamental process of light-matter interaction for information acquisition. Nanomaterials, including zero-dimensional quantum dots or nanocrystals, one-dimensional nanowires and nanorods and two-dimensional materials etc., allow for new physical mechanisms (resonance energy transfer, quantum tunneling, photocurrent oscillation, and valley electron band structure etc.) to be exploited in the development of optical sensors and open up new avenues for fundamental research. Furthermore, nanomaterials offer a large surface-to-volume ratio, creating opportunities to enhance the sensitivity of optical sensors.

Zero-dimensional quantum dots or nanocrystals exhibit unique optical and electronic properties due to their small size and quantum confinement effects. They have been extensively studied for use in optical sensors due to their high sensitivity and tunable absorption spectra. Nanowires and nanorods are one-dimensional nanostructures that exhibit high aspect ratios, which can lead to improved charge transport and sensitivity in optical sensors. They have also been used in optical sensors for their ability to interact with light in a highly directional manner. Layered materials, such as graphene and transition metal dichalcogenides, are two-dimensional materials that exhibit unique electrical and optical properties due to their atomic-scale thickness. They have been studied for use in optical sensors due to their high carrier mobility and strong light-matter interaction. In addition to the preparation and characterization of nanomaterials, papers submitted to this Research Topics may also include the development and optimization of optical sensors for specific spectral ranges, as well as the integration of these sensors with signal processing and interfacing technologies for real-world applications. Overall, this Research Topic aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the latest advances in the use of nanomaterials for optical sensors, and to promote further research in this rapidly evolving field.

To further advance the field of optical sensors based on nanomaterials, we are inviting authors to submit original research and comprehensive reviews with experimental and/or theoretical results. The topics of the contributions, broadly defined below, can include, but are not limited to:

- Preparation and characterization of optical sensors based on nanomaterials, such as zero-dimensional quantum dots or nanocrystals, one-dimensional nanowires or nanorods and two-dimensional layered materials

- Physical mechanism of optical sensors based on nanomaterials, working in the UV, visible, or infrared spectra

- The application of these detectors for optical sensors, sensor interfacing and signal processing, etc

- Optical sensors with high resolution and accuracy by integrating waveguides and nanomaterials

- Optical sensors based on a waveguide of resonant cavity that interacts with the target analyte

- Fluorescence sensing based on semiconductor quantum dots

- Nanolaser sensing based on nanomaterials

- Optoelectronic devices based perovskite nanocrystals.

Submit your idea

Impact

Frontiers in Physics

Participating Journals

Impact