[ opto— ]
Quantum physics of light
Photons strike a heterojunction, creating electrons and holes. These separate at the interface and channel through different semiconductor layers, generating a measurable electrical signal.
Optomechanics couples the quantum physics of light with the mechanics of semiconductors, joined at the interface of the heterojunctions.
[ opto— ]
Photons strike a heterojunction, creating electrons and holes. These separate at the interface and channel through different semiconductor layers, generating a measurable electrical signal.
[ —mechanics ]
Applied strain shifts the bandgap through the piezoresistive effect, forcing carriers to repopulate into lower energy states with different effective mass and mobility. This mechanical signal is read electronically.
[ = optomechanics ]
Controlling electron-hole movement at the quantum interface of 2D junctions amplifies sensitivity far beyond what either effect achieves alone, enabling self-powered ultrasensitive 2D optomechanical sensing.
Modern sensors are reaching a fundamental limit. Their performance is tied to the carrier mobility and band structure of the material they are made from, so improving sensitivity usually means more complex fabrication and heavier doping.
We take a different route. Instead of pushing a single material harder, we engineer the quantum interface between two semiconductors. At this interface, light separates electrons and holes, and mechanical strain reshapes the energy bands that carry them. By controlling both effects at once, we can amplify a sensing signal far beyond what either could achieve alone.
This is optomechanics – the quantum physics of light, coupled with the mechanical response of semiconductors. Our goal is to turn this fundamental science into practical, scalable sensing technology with real-world impact, and to train the next-generation researchers who will carry it forward.
We are establishing the 2D Optomechanics Lab at VinUniversity, recruiting postdocs, research assistants, and MS/PhD students.
01.06.2026 · Publication“Self-powered Ultrasensitive Photodetector with Electron-confined Architecture” – Dr Tran first and corresponding author.
24.04.2026 · Publication“Strain Engineering of 2D-integrated Heterostructures for Ultrasensitive Sensors” – led by PhD student That Buu Ton.