About the project
This project will develop quantum-enhanced Mid-IR sensing by integrating Photonic Integrated Circuits, 2D-materials and engineered metasurfaces. Combining enhanced light-matter interactions with quantum sensing and machine learning, the research aims to achieve compact, highly sensitive detection of disease biomarkers, VOCs and toxic gases for biosensing and environmental monitoring.
This project focuses on developing an advanced quantum sensing platform based on Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs), two-dimensional (2D) materials such as Transition Metal Dichalcogenides (TMDCs), and engineered metasurfaces for highly sensitive point-of-care diagnostics and environmental monitoring. Quantum sensing, which exploits phenomena such as coherence and superposition, offers the potential to achieve sensitivities beyond conventional detection limits. TMDCs, with their tunable optical properties, can enhance light-matter interactions, while metasurfaces can amplify specific optical resonances and enhance Mid-IR spectroscopic signals.
The project will integrate TMDC-enhanced PICs with advanced metasurface structures in Attenuated Total Reflection (ATR) and waveguide configurations to develop compact, highly sensitive Mid-IR sensors. The platform will exploit quantum sensing principles to detect subtle changes associated with molecular absorption, enabling real-time detection of low concentrations of environmental pollutants, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and toxic gases, and disease biomarkers associated with cancer and ARDS. The resulting molecular fingerprints will enable identification and quantitative analysis of target molecules.
The research will involve the design and fabrication of 2D material-enhanced PICs and metasurface chips, followed by spectroscopic characterisation and proof-of-principle testing. Machine learning and advanced data analysis will be explored to improve molecular identification, quantification and classification. The ultimate aim is to develop a compact, scalable and cost-effective sensing platform combining quantum-enhanced detection with the integration and portability of photonic technologies.
The School of Optoelectronics (ORC) is committed to promoting equality, diversity inclusivity as demonstrated by our Athena SWAN award. We welcome all applicants regardless of their gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or age, and will give full consideration to applicants seeking flexible working patterns and those who have taken a career break. The University has a generous maternity policy, onsite childcare facilities, and offers a range of benefits to help ensure employees’ well-being and work-life balance. The University of Southampton is committed to sustainability and has been awarded the Platinum EcoAward.
