Researchers from IESL-FORTH, Danae Katrisioti and Ioannis Paradisanos (affiliations: IESL-FORTH and MSE - UOC), together with collaborators from LAAS-CNRS have developed a versatile planarization strategy that allows atomically thin materials to be integrated with silicon nanoantennas while preserving strong optical near-field enhancement.

Collaborative research by FORTH’s QMM Lab reveals that organic-molecule-intercalated iron superconductors, despite reaching a high Tc of 39 K, struggle to carry high current. These findings highlight a broader materials-science challenge: while molecular intercalation can significantly enhance the superconducting transition temperature, translating this advantage into practical performance requires equally careful control of disorder and microstructure—including grain connectivity, phase purity, and densification. Only by addressing these factors can these quantum materials progress from laboratory curiosities toward viable high-field superconducting wires.

The Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser (IESL) of the Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH) announces the election of Dr. Emmanuel Stratakis as its new Director, marking the beginning of a new era of scientific excellence, innovation, and international collaboration for one of Europe's leading research institutes.