Harry A. Atwater Research Group

California Institute of Technology

How can nanophotonic design and advanced materials be used to control light–matter interactions for high-efficiency solar energy capture and photoelectrochemical fuel synthesis? The group investigates plasmonic devices, metasurfaces and two-dimensional materials for engineered light absorption and emission across projects in photovoltaics, quantum light emission and photoelectrochemical solar fuels. Researchers fabricate and characterize plasmonic nanostructures using nanofabrication techniques including e-beam lithography and focused ion beam with near-field and far-field optical microscopy to measure sub-wavelength confinement and propagation. The team integrates transparent conducting oxides and plasmonic slot waveguides to make field-effect modulators and to explore carrier-concentration modulation for active control. The group also leads and contributes to DOE hub-scale efforts in solar fuels development.