Photon-to-phonon energy transfer: controlling heat and vibrations with light in nanodevices

Joao Cunha

NanoBiTE - CAS

Light interaction in materials and devices is governed by the interplay between photons, electrons and phonons. Nanoparticles have received much attention for their ability to enhance the photon-electron interaction, providing new energy conversion possibilities in optoelectronic and energy harvesting devices. However, the inevitable presence of electron-phonon interaction results in losses into heat and vibrations. While detrimental in conventional optoelectronic and energy harvesting applications, other applications (e.g., chemical synthesis, steam generators) can benefit of customized heat and/or vibration through control of phonon generation and propagation. In this talk we will explore the photon-to-phonon energy transfer in a simple nanodevice geometry and highlight its potential applications.