IMPRS-APS Seminar: "Light, Charge, and Energy in Motion" (Prof. Emiliano Cortés)

IMPRS-APS Seminar Series

Date: Oct 22, 2026
Time: 02:00 PM - 04:00 PM (Local Time Germany)
Speaker: Prof. Emiliano Cortés
Nanoinstitute Munich, Faculty of Physics, University of Munich (LMU), Germany
Location: Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics, Hans-Kopferman-Straße 1, 85748 Garching
Room: Herbert Walther Lecture Hall
Host: IMPRS-APS

Understanding and controlling energy flow at the nanoscale is essential for designing materials that harvest light, drive chemical reactions, and store energy efficiently. Our research combines nanophotonic materials design with advanced imaging and spectroscopy methods to reveal how energy and charge move across diverse functional nanomaterials [1–10].

This work explores plasmonic, photonic, and photocatalytic systems that convert light into chemical bonds, with a focus on solar-driven H₂ evolution and CO₂ reduction. Through tailored nanostructure design, we uncover fundamental mechanisms and establish principles for efficient and scalable energy conversion.

We also develop imaging and characterization platforms that visualize charge and energy dynamics in real time and with nanometric precision. These approaches extend beyond nanophotonics to catalytic, light-emitting, battery, and 2D materials, enabling imaging-guided optimization of material function.

Together, this integrated strategy links material design, energy dynamics, and reactivity to advance the visualization, control, and optimization of energy flow from the nanoscale to practical applications.

References:

[1] Nature Reviews Chemistry 6, 259–274, 2022

[2] Nature 614, 230-232, 2023

[3] Nature Catalysis 6, 1205–1214, 2023

[4] Nature Physics 20, 1065–1077, 2024

[5] Nature Photonics 18 (9), 879-882, 2024

[6] Nature 630, 872–877, 2024

[7] Nature Catalysis, 8, 229-238, 2025

[8] Science 389, 977-978, 2025

[9] Nature Photonics 19, 615–623, 2025

[10] Nature Materials, 25, 1344–1351, 2026