We study the optical and structural properties of nanomaterials and 2D materials based on numerical simulations combining electrodynamics and electronic structure approaches. Our aim is to explain and predict material properties in order to address fundamental and applied challenges.

Recherches du groupe de recherche de Luc Henrard

Research in progress

Plasmonic response of metallic and semiconducting nanoparticles based on the discrete dipole approximation (DDA)

This research includes surface-enhanced molecule response (SERS, SEIRA), dual-band electrochromism, electronic energy loss spectroscopy (EELS), ...

Literature resources:

Spectroscopic responses of 2D materials and their derivatives based on density functional theory (DFT) and the semi-empirical (Tight-Binding) approach

This research includes simulations of optical and magnetic responses, STM fingerprints, ...

Literature resources:

Optical response of anisotropic heterostructures of 2D materials

This research includes the study of the role of anisotropy and the development of effective media theory.

Bibliographic resource:

B. Majerus et al. "Electrodynamics of two-dimensional materials: Role of anisotropy". Phys. Rev. B 12 (2018) 125419

Growth of 2D and carbon-based materials

This research includes the first steps in the growth of 2D graphene and BN layers and diamond surfaces.

Literature resources:

Our group has developed the DDEELS software for the simulation of optical and EELS responses of nanosystems, based on the discrete dipole approximation (DDA).

Composition of the research team

Promoter (PI): Luc Henrard

Luc Henrard is also affiliated with the naXys and NISM (Research cluster HPC-MM).

Other members

Thesis topics

  • Numerical simulations of optical properties and spectroscopic responses (EELS) of plasmonic systems: metallic and semiconducting nanoparticles, 2D materials, ...
  • Numerical simulations of structural and electronic properties of carbonaceous and 2D materials: growth and spectroscopic signatures (STM, Raman)