Our research is focused on the nanoscale and quantum photonics and low-dimensional quantum materials, with particular interest in the fundamental physics related to the nanoscale cavity-mediated light-matter interaction in the quantum regime, including quantum plasmonics, molecular electronic plasmonics, nonlinear nanophotonics, exciton polariton physics and devices. These fundamental studies are relevant to many exciting applications in miniaturized photonic and optoelectronic devices, energy harvesting, conversion, storage and saving, advanced biochemical sensing and biomedical imaging. We have direct access to a large number of advanced optical measurement systems for single-particle absorption / scattering, reflection / transmission, fluorescence and Raman spectroscopies, with functionalities ranging from near- to far-field, linear to nonlinear, steady state to time-resolved and ultrafast regimes.

Featured Research

Quantum plasmonics and nonlinear nanophotonics

We investigate quantum effects in plasmonic nanostructures, revealing spatial nonlocality, electron tunneling, quantum charge transport, and symmetry-driven nonlinear optical phenomena.

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Exciton polaritons in low-dimensional semiconductors

We explore excitonic phenomena in low-dimensional TMDCs, focusing on nonlinear spectroscopy, dark exciton characterization, exciton-plasmon coupling, and Purcell-effect-driven emission enhancement and manipulation.

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Plasmonics and metasurfaces for sensing and imaging

We develop plasmonic nanostructures and dielectric metasurfaces for ultrasensitive biochemical sensing, advanced SERS techniques, and high-resolution optical imaging with structured light.

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Photonic nanomaterials and meta-structures for energy conversion and saving

We employ photonic nanomaterials and metastructures to enhance solar energy harvesting in various solar cells and develop innovative radiative cooling coatings for energy-efficient buildings.

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Selected publications

1. Y. Liu, N. Blagojevic, Q.D. Xuan, J.H. Liu, Y. Liao, Y. Fu, Y.B. Fang, P.F. Cheng, X.L. Xu, T. Wang, N.Q. Yi, W. Li, M. Müller, J.-G. Dai, R.G. Yang, D.Y. Lei*, "One-step-processed bilayer biomass-derived ethyl cellulose for full-color sub-ambient daytime radiative cooling", Nature Energy, DOI: 10.1038/s41560-026-02039-0 (2026) - CityUHK's 1st Nature Energy paper with a single corresponding author and a single first-author (IF = 67.4)

2. J.H. Liu, F.H. Liu, T.Y. Xing, Y.F. Wang, Z.W. Peng, L. Guo, C. Hu, W. Yao, X. Zhang, D.Y. Lei*, "Extended valley lifetime and giant valley splitting induced by chiral-plasmon-valley exciton selective coupling", Nature Communications, 17, 2444 (2026) (IF = 16.6)

3. S. Y. Jin, F. L. Liu, I Razdolski, T. W. Lo, Y. R. Wang, Z. W. Peng, K. Liang, Y. Zhu, W. Yao, A. V. Zayats, D. Y. Lei*, "Plasmonic tuning of dark-exciton radiation dynamics and far-field emission directionality in monolayer WSe₂", Science Advances, 12, eaea5781 (2026) (IF = 13.6)

4. Y. Liu, D. Y. Lei*, "Painting humid cities cool", Nature Energy, 10, 1293-1294 (2025) (IF = 67.4)

5. Z. Gao^#, Y. Fu^#, Q. ZHang, J. Li, Z. Y. Li, G. H. Guo, D. F. Li, J. K. Zhou, D. Y. Lei*, X. G. Yu*, "Plasmonic printing of high-performance metal oxide electronics under room temperature", Nature Matreials 1-10. (2025) - CityUHK's 1st Nature Materials paper with two or less corresponding authors and all authors from CityUHK (IF = 38.5)

6. W. L. Li, P. He, D. Y. Lei*, Y. L. Fan, Y. T. Du, B. Gao, Z. Q. Chu, L. Q. Li, K. P. Liu, C. X. An, W. Z. Yuan, Y. T. Yu*, "Super-resolution multicolor fluorescence microscopy enabled by an apochromatic super-oscillatory lens with extended depth-of-focus", Nature Communications 14(1), 5107 (2023) (IF = 16.6, 21 citations)

7. J. Y. Li^#, Y. Fu^#, J. K. Zhou, K. M. Yao, X. Ma, S. W. Gao, Z. K. Wang, J.-G. Dai, D. Y. Lei*, X. G. Yu*, "Ultra-thin, soft, radiative cooling interfaces for advanced thermal management in skin electronics", Science Advances 9(14), eadg1837 (2023) (IF = 14.1, 102 citations)

8. H. L. You^#, S. Q. Li^#, Y. L. Fan, X. Y. Guo, Z. Z. Lin, R. Ding, X. Cheng, H. Zhang, T.-W. B. Lo, J. H. Hao, Y. Zhu, H.-Y. Tam, D. Y. Lei*, C.-H. Lam, H. T. Huang*, "Accelerated pyro-catalytic hydrogen production enabled by plasmonic local heating of Au on pyroelectric BaTiO₃ nanoparticles", Nature Communications 13, 6144 (2022) (IF = 16.6, 87 citations)

9. G.-C. Li, D. Y. Lei*, M. Qiu, W. Jin, S. Lan, A. V. Zayats*, "Light-induced symmetry breaking for enhancing second-harmonic generation from an ultrathin plasmonic nanocavity", Nature Communications 12, 4326 (2021) (IF = 16.6, 96 citations)

10. S. Q. Li, D. Y. Lei*, W. Ren, X. Y. Guo, S. F. Wu, Y. Zhu, A. L. Rogach, M. Chhowalla, A. K.-Y. Jen, "Water-resistant perovskite nanodots enable robust two-photon lasing in aqueous environment", Nature Communications 11, 1192 (2020) - The Top 50 Most Read Nature Communications Articles of 2020 in Physics (IF = 16.6, 196 citations)