Theoretical Nanophotonics at Rice University

We are a theoretical group performing research in the field of nanophotonics and plasmonics. We use a wide range of numerical methods (FDTD, FEM, BEM, DDA, Mie Theory, [TD]DFT) to investigate the optical properties of metallic, semiconductor, and graphene nanostructures, plasmonic, excitonic, and hybrid systems.

News:

• Congratulations to Peter Nordlander and Naomi Halas for their festschrift in J. Phys. Chem. C (details below)! 

• We are now searching to fill two postdoctoral openings in theoretical nanophotonics!  Please find details here or email nordland@rice.edu.

• Peter Nordlander and Naomi Halas win the Eni Energy Transition Award!

New Publications:

Aug.14 - J. Phys. Chem. C. "Titanium Oxynitride by TiO2 Nitridation: A Comparative Study of Film, Nanoparticle, and Metasurface Nanostructure Properties." Adebola Ogundare, Luke Kay, Abraham Ome, et al. 

June.18 - Nano Lett. "Inexpensive Hydrogen Storage: Propylene to Propane using Plasmonic Photocatalysis." Alison Carroll, Parmeet Dhindsa, Alexander Ahrens, Matheus L. N. Barbosa et al.

Apr.24 - ACS Catalysis. "Optimizing Plasmonic Photocatalysis by Controlling the Temporal Distribution of Incident Photons." Yigao Yuan, Andrea Schirato, Shan Deneen, et al.

Apr.10 - Solid State Physics. "Electronic, optical, and transport properties of semiconducting systems with diminishing dimensions: From spin to spintronics." Manvir S. Kushwaha. Adv. Res. Appl. Vol 77, pp. 1-542 (2026).

Feb.05 - ACS Photonics. "Robust Strong Coupling of Monolayer WS2 in Plasmonic Nanocavities via Scattering and Photoluminescence Spectroscopy." Jing Li, Qingzhang You, Wenjing Bo, et al. 

Dec.12 - Science Advances. "Optical and electrical probing of plasmonic metal-molecule interactions." Andrei Stefancu, Wenxuan Tang, Ming Fu, et al. 

Nov.06 - "Naomi J. Halas and Peter Nordlander Festschrift: A Partnership of Theory and Experiment that Shaped Plasmonics." J. Phys. Chem. C. 129(2025) issue 44. https://pubs.acs.org/page/jpccck/vsi/halas-nordlander-festschrift#

Oct.09 - J. Raman Spectrosc. "SERS and SEIRA Detection of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Their Derivatives in Murine Tissues: Bioaccumulation and Clearance." Oara Neumann, Andrés B. Sánchez-Alvarado, Weiwu Jiang, et al.

Aug.28 - ACS Sustainable Resour. Manage. "Combined Sustainable Water Purification and Remineralization Using an Off-Grid, Nanoparticle-Driven Solar Process." Oara Neumann, Pratiksha Dongare, Andrea Schirato, et al.

Aug.25 - Nano Lett. "Tuning the Reactivity of Al@TiO2 Antenna-Reactor Plasmonic Photocatalysts by Controlling Oxygen Vacancies." Aliyu A. Ahmad, Alexander Ahrens, Catherine J. Fabiano, et al.