News

09/09/2025 -  A recent study, carried out in collaboration between CNR, the Universities of Brescia and South-Ukrainian, and Sapienza University of Rome (Departments of Physics and SBAI), introduces a novel strategy to control the kinetics of redox reactions on WO3 surfaces by exploiting structural polymorphism, without relying on conventional doping or composite-based approaches. We synthesized monoclinic/orthorhombic WO3 polymorphic nanomaterials through a controlled precipitation process. Experimental characterization, supported by theoretical modeling, revealed that the solvent composition plays a key role in determining both the morphology and the phase evolution of WO3. The addition of PEG as a surfactant enhance structural disorder, suppress hydrate formation, and modify the oxide lattice. These structural changes enable the development of monoclinic/orthorhombic n–n junctions within the WO3 nanostructure, thereby improving the gas sensor’s sensitivity. Given the novelty and potential impact of this research, the findings have been published in the prestigious Journal of Material Chemistry A.

link: https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlehtml/2025/ta/d5ta04439a

14/07/2025 -  Through a collaborative effort led by Prof. Stefano Lupi and Dr. Salvatore Macis from the Department of Physics at Sapienza University and teams from the Minnesota University and other institutions, the optical properties of PdCoO2 and PdCrO2 have been investigated. These delafossites exhibit a unique feature, a dual optical hyperbolicity, a phenomenon where two distinct spectral regions support hyperbolic behavior in their dielectric response. Specifically, both materials display a narrow Drude–Lorentz hyperbolic regime in the mid-infrared and an exceptionally broad Drude–Drude hyperbolic region that extends from the infrared into the visible. The optical measurements reveal record values of hyperbolic quality factors and dielectric anisotropy. Such characteristics enable efficient propagation of hyperbolic phonon and plasmon polaritons. Given the novelty and potential impact of this research, the findings have been published in the prestigious journal Advanced Functional Materials.

This publication was supported by the European Union under the Italian National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) of Next Generation EU partnership PE0000023-NQSTI, and MUR PRIN project PHOtonics Terahertz devices based on tOpological materials (PHOTO) 2020RPEPNH. All work at the University of Minnesota (crystal growth and characterization) was supported by the US Department of Energy through the University of Minnesota (UMN) Center for Quantum Materials under DE-SC0016371. Parts of this work were conducted in the UMN Characterization Facility, which is partially supported by the US National Science Foundation through the MRSEC program under DMR-2011401. The authors acknowledge support through the PRIN 2022 MUR Project No. 20223T577Z.

link: https://advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/adfm.202512820 

13/11/2024 - A delegation from the Physics Class of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences recently embarked on a journey through some of most significant scientific institutions in Rome. The delegation visited the Dept. of Physics, Sapienza University of Rome and on November 13th, for a  tour of the scientific cutting-edge laboratories, including SapienzaTerahertz Laboartories.

They were welcomed in Sapienza Terahertz laboratories by Prof. Lupi and our young scientific team . During the delegation's visit, Prof. Lupi highlighted the main research areas of SapienzaTerahertz in the field of THz/IR spectroscopy and photonics, such as THz and optical spectroscopy and photonics of quantum matter, and innovativeTHz/IR-based diagnostic methods for pathogen detection.

07/12/2023 - SNOM "Sapienza Nano Optical fabrication and spectroMicroscopy" project wins the public call Open Infrastructures for Research 2022 by Regione Lazio, aimed at creating an infrastructure for increasing the competitiveness of the regional research and innovation system. The aim of SNOM is the foundation of an open infrastructure for research in the field of characterization and fabrication of innovative materials and devices, through microspectroscopic techniques able to perform imaging and spectroscopy at the nanoscale.

The overall cost of the project is about € 3.4 Mln. Regione Lazio co-finances the project with an amount of approximately € 2.2 Mln. The grant will be devoted to upgrading of laboratories, instruments and equipment, and updating of technological systems and plants.

Info at: https://www.lazioinnova.it/bandi/infrastrutture-aperte-per-la-ricerca-2022/