Cristina Mancarella
PhD thesis title: Plasmonic and multifunctional nanostructured metamaterials with tailored electrical and optical properties
Academic Tutor: Carlo Spartaco Casari
Academic Supervisor: Andrea Li Bassi
PhD cycle: 35° (see all student profiles of the same cycle > LINK)
BSc: Materials Enginneering and Nanotechnology, Politecnico di Milano
MSc: Materials Enginneering and Nanotechnology, Politecnico di Milano
``Best poster award” within NanoPlasm2022 conference (13-17 July 2022), http://www.nanoplasmconference.com/ / ``Three-minutes thesis competition” award, within E-MRS 2021 Fall meeting (22/09/2021), https://www.european-mrs.com/meetings/2021-fall/three-minute-thesis-competition
Thesis abstract
My research project is focused on the experimental realization of original plasmonic nano-systems (thin films, nanocomposites and multilayers) via Pulsed Laser Deposition, combining traditional (metals, e.g. Au) and alternative (transparent conductive oxides, transition metal nitrides) plasmonic materials with the aim to master and tune material properties (morphology, structural, electrical, optical/plasmonic and electro-optical characteristics) in view of a future realization of prototype devices for advanced applications from the energy sector, namely plasmon-enhanced photovoltaics and optoelectronics, to nanophotonics and bio-sensing.
Personal interest in my research theme
The established potentialities of plasmonic effects in boosting light-matter interactions at the nanoscale are fundamental for next-generation devices merging multifunctionality, tunability and broader spectral responses. The archetypes are noble metals, although expensive and showing limited modulation. In my PhD I develop non-metal alternatives and their nanostructures, following a material science outlook. What I enjoy most is the multidisciplinary aspect and the study of several material properties, fighting against the challenge of fully correlating them to understand the physics behind.
