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The Bigger Picture
The global photonic integrated circuit (PIC) market is projected to reach above USD 50 billion by 2035, driven by three key factors:
Bandwidth demand: Rising requirements for high-speed data transmission in telecommunications and hyperscale data centers.
Emerging technologies: Integration with optical computing, quantum information processing, and generative AI hardware.
Manufacturing advances: Adoption of CMOS-compatible fabrication and heterogeneous integration techniques, enabling cost-effective mass production.
A PIC is a microscale system in which photonic components—such as waveguides, modulators, and detectors—are monolithically fabricated on semiconductor substrates (e.g., silicon, indium phosphide) to form fully integrated optical systems. Unlike electronic circuits that rely on electrons, PICs utilize photons as information carriers through mechanisms including coherent light emission, optical modulation, and guided-wave propagation. These chips achieve precise light-matter interactions via engineered resonant structures (e.g., microring resonators) and dispersion-tailored waveguides.
Recent breakthroughs in integrated nonlinear photonics—a discipline combining nonlinear optics, nanophotonics, and material science—have further expanded PIC capabilities. By leveraging high-index-contrast waveguides (e.g., silica, silicon silicon nitride, lithium niobate) to confine light at subwavelength scales, integrated nonliear photonics provides transformative capabilities for controlling, enhancing and manipulating material nonlinearities within monolithic PIC platforms. This platform faciliates nonlinear optical phenomena in both classic and quantum regime. Such engineered light-mater interactinos underpin disruptive technologies for critcal applications:
Optical computing: Programmable photonic circuits for analog optical matrix multiplication and neuromorphic computing, enabling ultrafast, energy-efficient AI accelerators.
Frequency metrology: Chip-scale Kerr frequency combs for optical clocks and spectroscopy.
Quantum technologies: Distributed quantum sensing and quantum entanglement generation.
Biophotonics: Label-free biosensors with single-molecule sensitivity.
Research Overview
To unlock their full potential in integrated nonlinear photonics for expanding PIC capabilities, a multifaceted approach spanning materials, device design, integrated strategies, and system-level optimization is essential. Our research group focuses on two key areas:
1) Improving efficiencies of integrated nonlinear optical effects across the entire optical spectrum.
2) Discovering new materials and nanotechnologies that enable precise control of nonlinear signals in integrated platform.
Specifically, we are dedicated in engineering interactions between tailored molecular materials (e.g., organic semiconductors) and subwavelength-confined photonic modes (enabled by microresonators or microcrystalline structure), with the aim to amplify and manipulate nonlinear optical processes such as second-order and third-order parametric frequency conversions. With this goal, our research is broadly classified into three sub-areas.
1. Integrated microcavity nonlinear photonics
As one of the fundamental components in integrated nonlinear photonics, optical microcavities confine light into extremely small mode volumes and resonate at specific optical frequencies or wavelengths, enabling the buildup of intense optical fields. Among various types of optical microcavities, whispering-gallery-mode (WGM) microcavities are particularly notable for their ultrahigh quality (Q) factors. These microcavities have emerged as transformative nonlinear photonic components with significant potential in applications such as ultraprecise frequency metrology, high-speed optical communications, quantum information processing, and spectroscopy.
In this research subfield, we are of particularly dedicated to developing a novel integrated microcavity platform termed high-Q organic-hybrid microcavities (OHMs). This platform combines the strong nonlinearities and versatile functionalities of oganic molecuar materials with the ultrahigh Q characteristics of WGM microcavities. By harnessing this synergistic effect, we strive to achieve precise nonlinear signal control and boost nonlinear optical conversion efficiencies in microcavity-based devices.
Related publication:
1. Molecule-induced surface second-order nonlinearity in an inversion symmetric microcavity. Optica 2025 under production.
2. Raman laser from an optical microcavity grafted with a single molecule layer. Nature Photonics 2020, 14, 90
3. Microcavity nonlinear optics with an organically functionalized surface. Phys. Rev. Lett. 2019, 123, 173902
4. Hydrophobic silica microcavities with sustainable nonlinear photonic performance. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2023, 15, 41067.
5. Emerging material platforms for integrated microcavity photonics (Invited Review). Sci. China-Phys. Mech. Astron. 2022 65(10), 104201.
6. Low threshold parametric oscillation in organically modified microcavities. Science Advances 2018, 4(1), eaao4507
More is coming, stay tuned...
2. Micro/nano nonlinear photonics
In this sub-area, we are interested in exploring unconventional nanomaterials with exceptional nonlinera optical propserties for next-generation integrated photonics. A key focus is on micro- and nanoscale structures composed of organic molecules or polymers, which offer tunable optical properties and compatibility with scalable fabrication.
Related publication:
1. Large-domain monolayer MoS2 systhesis via local-feeding metalorganic chemical vapor deposition. ACS Materials Lett. 2024, 6, 2802.
2. Hydrogel platform capable of molecularly resolved pulling on Cells for mechanotransduction. Mater. Today Bio 2022, 17, 100476.
3. Coming soon, stay tuned...
3. Optical moleuclar biomaging probes
Related publication: stay tuned....
Funding：
NSFC，1， PI， 2022.1-2026.12
Shanghai Eastern Scholar Program，1 ， PI， 2021.1-2023.12
Shanghai Pujiang Talent Program，1， PI， 2020.11-2022.10
Shanghai Science and Technology Innovation Plan NSF，1， PI，2020.7-2023.6
独立课题小组后主要代表性成果：
集成微腔非线性光学方向
主要学术贡献：1) 通过开发一种高品质单分子层集成技术，将表面非线性光学理论引入集成光学微腔研究，首创发展了一种高Q有机杂化微腔（OHMs）器件平台；2) 基于OHM v1.0微腔平台研究了二阶、三阶等集成光学应用中的关键非线性频率转换过程的调控与增强，验证演示了OHM器件在集成非线性光学和光芯片应用上的显著优势。
1. 在《Optica》报道了一种在硅基集成光子器件诱导产生二阶非线性的独创新方案。该方案具有CMOS兼容性和大面积制备的潜力，有望推动非线性硅光芯片的研究与发展。
2. 在《Nature Photonics》报道了一种片上集成光学微腔高效拉曼激光新原理及器件。该工作系1979年美国贝尔实验室提出SSRS理论以来的首次实验验证，并将SSRS应用于构建高效片上集成拉曼激光器。
3. 在《Physical Review Letters》报道了一种分子增强光学微腔三次谐频与和频转换方法。
4. 在《ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces》报道了一种解决高Q氧化硅微腔光学频率梳器件长期稳定性问题的新方法和器件。
5. OHMS v2.0相关成果 敬请期待......
微纳非线性光学方向
1. 系列相关成果 敬请期待......
光学分子成像探针
1. 系列相关成果 敬请期待......
经费项目：
国家自然科学基金面上项目，1项， 负责人， 2022.1-2026.12
上海市特聘教授东方学者项目，1项， 负责人， 2021.1-2023.12
上海市浦江人才计划，1项， 负责人， 2020.11-2022.10
上海市科技创新行动计划自然科学项目，1项， 负责人，2020.7-2023.6
课题组部分研究设备
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Congrat Ru Wang and Yue Dai! With five years' hard work and indept research, our paper on molecule-induced second order nonlinearity for integrated photonics is just accepted by Optica. May 15.
Congrat Jiadu, Yang Wang on their paper! Our new paper is online on ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces. We developed a new type of ultrahigh Q silica microcavity device that effectively prevents Q decay over time, enabling long-term staible nonlinear optical performance. Aug 30.
Welcome our new group member Ruoyu Wang! Mr Wang obtained his B.S in Physics from Ocean University of China. Sept 7.
Our research work was published on Nature Photonics! Congrats to all the coworkers! We managed to realize the excitation of an exceptional nonlinear process, named Surface Stimulated Raman Scattering (SSRS), from a single-molecule layer grafted on a on-chip microcavity. The SSRS in turns boosts the Raman lasing performance of the device. Dec 2.
Xiaoqin gave an invited talk at Institute of Chemistry, CAS, Beijing (中科院化学所). Nov 29.
Xiaoqin gave an oral presentation in The 12th International Photonics and OptoElectronics Meeting (POEM 2019), Wuhan, Hubei. Nov 14.
Xiaoqin gave an invited talk at Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronic (武汉光电国家研究中心). Nov 13.
Our paper published on Physical Review Letters was featured on cover（封面报道）and highlighted as editor's suggestion. Oct 25.Xiaoqin Shen gave an invited talk at the Microcavity Workshop, Photonics Asia 2019（亚洲光电子会议）, Hangzhou, Zhejiang. Oct 20.
Our recent work collaborated with Yunfeng Xiao’s group at PKU was just accepted by Physical Review Letters, titled “Microcavity nonlinear optics with an organically functionalized surface”. Congratulations to all the coworkers! Oct 1.
Xiaoqin Shen gave an invited talk on 2019 Microcavity Photonics Symposium, Nankai University, Tianjin. Jun 2.
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19. R. Wang, Y. Dai, J. Cheng, R. Wang, X. Shen*, Molecule-induced surface second-order nonlinearity in an inversion symmetric microcavity. Optica 2025 under production. (arXiv:2405.12483)
18. Y. Yang, Y Qiu, B. Hua, J. Cai, Y. Zhang, K. Cao, X. Shen*, Q. Ji*, Large-domain monolayer MoS2 systhesis via local-feeding metalorganic chemical vapor deposition. ACS Materials Lett. 2024, 6, 2802
17. S. Yu, H. Kang, X. Shen, Y. Xue, W. Wan, C. Zou, B. Chen, J. Lu, Poling-assisted hydrofluoric acid wet etching of thin-film lithium niobate. Opt. Lett. 2024, 49, 85
16. J. Xie#, Y. Wang#, H. Kang, J. Cheng, X. Shen*, Hydrophobic silica microcavities with sustainable nonlinear photonic performance. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2023, 15, 41067.
15. H. Wang, W. Xu, Q. Wei, S. Peng, Y. Shang, X. Jiang, D. Yu, K. Wang, R. Pu, C. Zhao , Z. Zang , H. Li , Y. Zhang, T. Pan, Z. Peng, X. Shen, S. Ling, W. Liu, F. Gao, Z. Ning, In-situ growth of low-dimensional perovskite-based insular nanocrystals for highly efficient light emitting diodes. Light: Science & Applications 2023, 12:62.
14. N. Cheng, Y. Zhang, Y. Wu, B. Li, H. Wang, S. Chen, P. Zhao, J. Cui, X. Shen, X. Zhu, Y. Zheng, Hydrogel platform capable of molecularly resolved pulling on Cells for mechanotransduction. Mater. Today Bio 2022, 17, 100476
13. J Liu*, F. Bo*, L Chang*, C-H Dong*, X. Ou*, B. Regan*, X. Shen*, Q. Song*, B. Yao*, W. Zhang*, C-L Zou*, Y-F Xiao*, Emerging material platforms for integrated microcavity photonics (Invited Review). Sci. China-Phys. Mech. Astron. 2022 65(10), 104201.
-- Also see Tencent News: 12位PI联合撰写｜集成微腔光子学的新兴材料平台【SCPMA特邀综述】
12. X. Shen*, H. Choi, D. Chen, W. Zhao, A. Armani*, Raman laser from an optical microcavity grafted with a single molecule layer. Nature Photonics 2020, 14, 90
---Also see ShanghaiTech News: 物质学院沈晓钦课题组在表面非线性光学研究取得重要进展
11. J-h Chen#, X. Shen#, S-J Tang, Q-T Cao, Q. Gong, Y-F Xiao*, Microcavity nonlinear optics with an organically functionalized surface. Phys. Rev. Lett. 2019, 123, 173902
---Higlighted as Editor's suggestion and featured on the cover (Vol. 123, Iss. 17, Phys. Rev. Lett.)
---Also See ShanghaiTech News: 物质学院沈晓钦课题组与合作者在有机修饰微腔光学研究取得重要进展
---Selected publications before joining ShanghaiTech---
10. X. Shen*, R. Beltran, V. Diep, S. Soltani, A. Armani*, Low threshold parametric oscillation in organically modified microcavities. Science Advances 2018, 4(1), eaao4507
---Selected as cover story for the brochure on CW Tunable Lasers for Quantum Applications, by Spectra-PhysicsTM
9. L. Dou, Y. Zheng, X. Shen, G. Wu, K. Fields, W-C Hsu, H. Zhou, Y. Yang*, F. Wudl*, Single-crystal linear polymers through visible light-triggered topochemical quantitative polymerization. Science 2014, 343, 272
----Also see Perspectives by Nancy Goroff: ' A clear path for polymer crystallization', Science 2014, 343, 258
8. X. Shen, Y. Zheng, F. Wudl*, Thermally induced reversible solide-state transformation of novel s-indancene 1,3,5,7-tetraone derivatives. J. Mater. Chem. C 2016, 4 2427
7. X. Shen, L. Li, A. Chan, S. Q. Yao, Q-H Xu*, Water soluble conjugated polymers for simultaneous two-photon cell imaging and two-photon photodynamic therapy. Adv. Opt. Mater. 2013, 1, 92
6. X. Shen, S. Li, L. Li, S. Q. Yao, Q-H Xu*, Highly efficient conjugated polymer nano-photosensitizers for targeted two-photon photodynamic therapy and imaging. Chem. Eur. J. 2015, 21, 2214
5. X. Shen, L. Li, H. Wu, S. Q. Yao, Q-H Xu*, Photosensitizer-doped conjugated polymer nanoparticles for simultaneous two-photon imaging and two-photon photodynamic therapy in living cells. Nanoscale 2011, 3, 5140
---Selected asTop 20 Articles in the domain 'two-photon, imaging, sensing, therapy' by DoMedLib, 2012
4. X. Shen, L. Li, H. Wu, S. Q. Yao, Q-H Xu*, Enhanced two-photon single oxygen generation by photosensitizer-doped conjugated polymer nanoparticles. Langmuir 2011, 11, 19551
3. L. Li, X. Shen, Q-H Xu, S. Q. Yao*, A switchable two-photon membrane tracer capable of imaging membranceassociated protein tyrosine phosphatase activities. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2012, 51, 1
2. R. Shen, X. Shen, Z. Zhang, Y. Li, S. Liu, H. Liu*, Multi-functional conjugates to prepare nucleolar-targeting CdS quantum dots. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2010, 132, 8627
1. X. Shen, H. Liu*, Y. Li, S. Liu, Click-together azobezene dendrons: synthesis and characterization. Macromolecules 2008, 41, 2421
---Highlighed in Noteworthy Chemistry ACS, May 2008, by Ben Zhong Tang
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Group Activities
Alumni
Hui Kang (Master 2024) Current: HISTARLINK 氦星光联科技
Ru Wang (Master 2024) Current: 梅陇实验中学
Jiadu Xie (Master 2023) Current: IC design engineer, AIchip 世芯电子
Yue Dai (Master 2023) 芯片设计
Yang Wang (Master 2022) Current: product engineer, Galaxycore 格科微电子
Liucheng Lv (Undergrad 2022) Current: graduate student, ShanghahiTech
Congjie Ding (Undergrad 2020) Current: graduate student, ShanghahiTech
Yile Zhang (Undergrad 2020) Current: graduate student, ShanghahiTech
Yuqi Qin Current: graduate sduent, Hongkong University of Science and Technology
Teaching | | Back to Top |
PHYS1193: General Physics II, Electromagnetisms and Optics (3 credits). Fall
MSE2502: Fluorescence Spectroscopy and microscopy (3 credits). Fall
PHYS1501: Introduction to Modern Physics (Photonics section) (1 credit). Fall