New photonic chip traps light for millions of cycles using protected atomically thin materials.
A team of researchers has developed a new way to trap light on a chip for millions of cycles, overcoming a long-standing challenge in photonic device engineering. The approach allows delicate atomically thin materials to be shaped without damage, unlocking their potential for high-performance optical systems.
The work focuses on van der Waals materials, a class of ultra-thin substances known for their exceptional optical and electronic properties. Despite their promise, these materials have been difficult to use as structural components because standard fabrication methods can easily damage them.
To address this, the researchers introduced a protective step before fabrication. They coated the material with a thin aluminum layer that absorbs the impact of harsh processing tools, allowing precise shaping at the nanoscale without degrading the material.
Using this method, the team created tiny disk-shaped structures that can confine light extremely efficiently. These microdisks allow light to circulate repeatedly with minimal loss, reaching performance levels not previously achieved with such materials.
Shielding fragile materials
“Yet, despite their enormous potential, using vdW materials as structural building blocks has remained a major challenge,” said Xiaoqi Cui.
The protective coating acts as a temporary barrier during fabrication, enabling what the researchers describe as nanoscale surgery. “This aluminium layer works like a microscopic suit of armour,” said Andreas Liapis. “It absorbs the destructive impact of the ion beam.”
The result is a set of ultra-smooth structures that preserve the material’s crystal quality while achieving high precision. These devices reached quality factors above 1,000,000, meaning only a tiny fraction of light is lost during each cycle. In practical terms, light can circulate inside the structure millions of times before fading.
“This performance surpasses previous vdW resonant systems by three orders of magnitude,” said Zhipei Sun.
Boosting light interactions
The ability to trap light so effectively has important consequences. When light remains confined within a structure, it interacts more strongly with the material, enhancing optical effects that are otherwise weak.
In testing, the researchers observed a 10,000-fold increase in efficiency in second harmonic generation, a process used to convert light from one frequency to another. This level of improvement opens up new possibilities for compact photonic systems.
The advance also moves vdW materials from being passive components to active building blocks in photonic devices. This could support the development of reconfigurable circuits, quantum light sources, and highly sensitive sensors integrated directly onto chips.
More broadly, the study shows that materials once considered too fragile can now be engineered into functional devices with record performance. It also highlights how combining protective fabrication techniques with advanced materials can unlock new capabilities in photonics.
The approach also benefits from the naturally smooth, defect-free surfaces of these materials, which reduce light scattering and improve performance. By combining precise fabrication with strong material properties, the method pushes photonic chips closer to real-world applications in computing and sensing.
The findings were published in the journal Nature Materials.
Microdisks Nanofabrication Nonlinear Optics Optical Chips Photonics Quantum Devices Vdw Materials
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