NTU’s optics and imaging research is exploring the frontiers of light to drive innovation across science, engineering and healthcare. Using advanced imaging techniques, precision optics and computational modelling, our researchers develop technologies that reveal, measure and manipulate light in ways that were previously impossible. From ultra-sensitive sensors to next-generation imaging systems, NTU’s work enables breakthroughs in materials science, biomedical applications and energy technologies. Through collaboration with industry and international partners, we deliver solutions that advance knowledge, create practical tools and shape the future of photonics and imaging worldwide.
Next-generation research sparking flat screens
Current flat-screen technologies, including LCDs and LEDs, are approaching their physical limits. Resolution, response time and power consumption have plateaued, limiting performance improvements. Yet the market demands screens that are faster, thinner and more energy-efficient — without requiring entirely new production platforms. Meeting this challenge is the focus of NTU’s optics and photonics research.
Researchers are developing metasurfaces (ultrathin layers, 200 times thinner than a human hair) that can replace conventional liquid crystal layers in existing screens. These arrays of engineered nanoparticles manipulate light with unprecedented precision, enabling displays with up to 100 times higher resolution, one order of magnitude faster response time, and up to 50% lower power consumption. By integrating artificial intelligence and machine learning, performance can be further optimised, paving the way for smarter, more responsive displays.
This innovation is designed for seamless adoption. Using current liquid crystal production lines, screens can be upgraded to metasurface technology without costly new infrastructure, reducing barriers to commercialisation. Collaborative research with industry partners ensures that the technology meets real-world performance and manufacturing requirements.
The potential impact is significant. Consumers could experience sharper images, smoother motion and lower energy bills, while manufacturers benefit from a high-performance, scalable platform compatible with existing processes. Beyond screens, the research opens avenues for ultra-sensitive sensors, advanced imaging systems and other photonics applications.
Through cutting-edge science, creative engineering and interdisciplinary collaboration, NTU is redefining the capabilities of flat-screen technology. This research demonstrates how photonics innovation can deliver practical solutions, transforming everyday devices while establishing a foundation for the next generation of high-performance optical technologies.
Our researchers
Distinguished Professor Mohsen Ramani
Mohsen leads cutting-edge research in nano-technology, optics and photonics as Head of NTU’s Advanced Optics and Photonics (AOP) Lab. He develops nanoscale devices and metasurfaces that manipulate light for applications in imaging, sensing and energy technologies. Since joining NTU, Mohsen has secured major funding for the university’s research, including a Royal Society Wolfson Fellowship, a UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship, and a European Research Council Consolidator Grant, enabling ambitious projects and team growth.
Dr Cuifeng Ying
Dr Cuifeng Ying is a Senior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering at NTU and a member of the Advanced Optics and Photonics (AOP) Lab. She leads pioneering research using plasmonic nanostructures and synthetic nanopores to observe single proteins and uncover how they behave in diseases such as Alzheimer’s. In 2023, her team developed new technology to isolate and study individual proteins in real time – a breakthrough that could transform early disease detection.
Dr Lei Xu
Dr Lei Xu is an Associate Professor in Electrical Engineering at NTU and a member of the Advanced Optics and Photonics (AOP) Lab. His research explores how resonant meta-structures can manipulate light at the nanoscale to create advanced optical technologies. Lei’s work spans energy harvesting, bio-photonics, and tuneable meta-devices – from enhancing solar cells and developing wearable biosensors to designing ultra-thin optical systems that replace traditional bulky components.
Associated Research Centres and Groups
Imaging, Materials and Engineering Centre (IMEC)
To solve modern engineering problems requires an interdisciplinary approach. At IMEC this principle is embedded in the way we do research in the applied sciences and engineering, with our strengths in imaging, materials, and smart and medical technologies.
Advanced Optics and Photonics Group
AOP group focuses on the of light-matter interaction with various engineered nanoparticles. The group’s expertise lies in high-precision nano-fabrication, cutting-edge optical characterisations and advanced modelling techniques via Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning.
Advanced Optical Techniques
Our work develops liquid crystal and electrowetting based display devices and includes design, fabrication and testing. Within optics we use optical interference techniques, fiber optic devices and multispectral cameras.
iSMART
The iSMART research group brings together expertise and facilities across a range of science and engineering disciplines to provide an extensive toolbox for collaborative research opportunities aligned to the needs of industry.
Re:searchers Re:vealed
Here at NTU, our researchers come from a variety of backgrounds, and they all have a powerful story to tell. In this series, we share their stories. From the mothers, the dancers and the engineers, to the refugees, the survivors and the volunteers.
This is their re:search, re:vealed.
Re:search Re:imagined
To us, research is about more than writing papers and proposing new ideas. By daring to think differently, we’re disrupting the research landscape and finding the answers to the questions that really matter. From social media addiction to sustainable farming, we’re inspiring the brightest minds to rise up and find solutions to some of the most significant global challenges facing society