Professor Saulius Juodkazis looking at a spin coating setup in Swinburne’s plasmonics laboratory, 2011

Swinburne University of Technology is set to open its new $8 million plasmonics laboratory, consolidating the university’s position as one of Australia’s leading nanophotonics research hubs. The facility, complete with ‘cleanroom’, will enable Swinburne researchers to manipulate nanoparticles— which are a fraction of the width of a human hair—with incredible accuracy. This will make it possible for them to take their research in sensing, solid-state lighting and solar energy conversion to the next level. Professor of Nanophotonics Saulius Juodkazis, says his research group at the Centre for Micro-Photonics—which is looking at how cutting edge plasmonics techniques can be applied to improve the efficiency of solar cells—will benefit immensely from the new facility. Photograph appeared in the Swinburne Media Centre Release: ‘Plasmonics lab opens up nano-toolbox’ on 22 November 2011