Supported through a Theodore Papazoglou FORTH Synergy Grant (Spectra-Gen: Spectroscopic Screening of Ancient Dental Remains for Optimized Archaeogenetic Analysis), researchers from IESL-Photonics for Heritage Science group, IMBB- Ancient DNA Lab, and ICS, studied a large number of ancient teeth, originating from various excavations and contexts in Greece and across a time span of 8 millennia.
In the context of this study, published recently in the Microchemical Journal, doi: org/10.1016/j.microc.2026.117446, a straightforward and fast spectrochemical methodology, based on micro-Raman spectrometry, was developed and shown to serve as a suitable tool for screening teeth prior to genetic analysis, predicting which ones might exhibit a higher human DNA preservation.
As detailed in the article by A Philippidis et al, screening is achieved on the basis of a simple molecular index, the amide-to-phosphate ratio (Am-I/P), extracted from key vibrational bands in the Raman spectra, which serves as a proxy of the dental tissue protein content (typically collagen) relative to hydroxyapatite, namely the inorganic matrix. Analysis is performed, non-invasively, directly on intact teeth, by use of a compact, mobile micro-Raman spectrometer, focusing the laser probe on the cementum part, known to be protein rich. Ancient DNA analysis showed that teeth found to preserve endogenous human DNA, to a reasonable degree, showed indeed a good statistical correlation with the ones identified to be protein-rich based on the Am-I/P.
Dr. Giannis Zacharakis, a biophotonics and biomedical imaging researcher and CEO of Kymatonics, was featured in the “Ask Me Anything” interview series by Physics World, where scientists share insights into their careers and the realities of research.
Dr. Zacharakis is a Research Director at the Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser (FORTH) in Greece, where he leads the Laboratory for Biophotonics and Molecular Imaging. He has also served as president and vice-president of the European Society for Molecular Imaging, with his work focusing on developing key enabling technologies for imaging biological processes in living systems.
In the aforementioned interview, he highlights the intellectual freedom that comes with pursuing meaningful scientific questions and emphasizes the interdisciplinary nature of his work at the interface of physics, biology, and biomedicine. He describes research as a non-linear process, where progress often emerges through exploration, iteration, and openness to unexpected directions.
His perspective underscores the importance of analytical thinking, creativity, communication, and project management, alongside mentoring young scientists and fostering independent thought. It is especially meaningful to work alongside a principal investigator who approaches research with this mindset, valuing curiosity, critical thinking, and the process behind discovery.
At the same time, he acknowledges the challenges of uncertainty, competitive funding, and administrative demands. Reflecting on his journey, he stresses that embracing uncertainty, strengthening communication skills, and cultivating collaboration are essential for long-term growth in research. Ultimately, he values an environment driven by curiosity and critical thinking, where the process of discovery is just as important as the outcome.
Read the full interview: https://physicsworld.com/a/ask-me-anything-giannis-zacharakis-the-ability-to-pursue-questions-that-genuinely-interest-you-is-a-privilege/
Conceptualised, developed and constructed in the context of the CALLOS project, TRIENA is a compact, portable, field-ready analytical instrument, fusing three spectrochemical techniques: Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy, LED-Induced Fluorescence, and Diffuse Reflectance spectroscopy.
Since October 2023, right with the completion of CALLOS, this innovative analytical instrument has been installed at the conservation labs of the Ephorate of Antiquities of the City of Athens (EACA), and used by conservators in the context of studies related to the preservation of heritage objects, including, among others, stone sculpture, wall paintings, icons and manuscripts. The Photonics for Heritage Science (PhoHS) group collaborates closely with conservation scientists at EACA developing further protocols and methods for analyzing materials and objects. Routine use of TriENA in materials analysis, not only in the EACA labs but also outdoors, at monument sites in the Athens area, is expected to enhance the scientific support for crucial ongoing research and preservation initiatives.
Details concerning the TRIENA concept along with engineering aspects and relevant examples, demonstrating the instrument’s performance, are described in an article recently published in Analytical Chemistry, titled "TriENA: a portable, hybrid multimode spectrometer combining Diffuse Reflectance, LED-Induced Fluorescence, and Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy for a holistic analysis of materials on monuments and objects of archaeological interest" (https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.5c05236).
In 2025, the Journal of Physics B: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics (IOP Publishing) highlighted a selection of outstanding works that shaped atomic and molecular physics during the year. Among these was a review article led by researchers from the Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH), Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser (IESL), underscoring the institute’s leading role in research on strong-field and quantum light–matter interactions.
The article, entitled “Recent developments in the generation of non-classical and entangled light states using intense laser–matter interactions” was authored by Th. Lamprou, N. Tsatrafyllis, and P. Tzallas from IESL-FORTH, in collaboration with P. Stammer, J. Rivera-Dean, and M. Lewenstein from ICFO (Spain), as well as M. F. Ciappina from the Guangdong Technion—Israel Institute of Technology. Its inclusion in the 2025 highlights reflects both its scientific impact and the international visibility of research carried out at IESL-FORTH.
In this work, the researchers examined the fundamental importance of non-classical and entangled light states in quantum mechanics and their growing relevance for emerging quantum technologies. They emphasized the need for developing efficient methods to generate such states and reviewed recent evidence showing that intense laser–matter interactions can provide a powerful pathway toward this goal. In particular, they discussed how fully quantized theoretical approaches, combined with the process of high-harmonic generation, enable the production of high-photon-number non-classical and entangled light spanning frequencies from the far-infrared to the extreme-ultraviolet. The authors outlined the core operational principles behind these approaches and analyzed recent progress, as well as future perspectives, in non-classical light engineering using strong optical fields. They further highlighted the potential applications of these advances in ultrafast science and quantum information, concluding that these developments mark an important step toward novel quantum nonlinear spectroscopy techniques based on the interplay between the quantum properties of light and quantum matter.
Reference
Lamprou, T., Stammer, P., Rivera-Dean, J., Tsatrafyllis, N., Ciappina, M. F., Lewenstein, M., & Tzallas, P. (2025). Recent developments in the generation of non–classical and entangled light states using intense laser–matter interactions. Journal of Physics B: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics. 58(13), 132001. Doi: 10.1088/1361-6455/add9fe
The open access research paper entitled "Processing and Compositional Effects on the Stability of All-Inorganic Metal Halide Perovskite Anodes: A Comparative Study of Dry- vs. Slurry-Fabricated Electrodes," resulting from a collaboration between the Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser (IESL-FORTH), the Democritus University of Thrace (DUTH), and the University of Crete, has been published in the prestigious journal Advanced Materials Technologies (Wiley).
The study was led by Drs Konstantinos Brintakis and Athanasia Kostopoulou from the Ultrafast Laser Micro- and Nano-Processing (ULMNP) Group at IESL-FORTH, and Dr Georgios Zardalidis from the Micro & Nano Technology Lab at the Democritus University of Thrace.
This research addresses a critical gap in the development of next-generation energy storage materials, demonstrating that the stability of all-inorganic metal halide perovskite anodes is critically dependent on the electrode fabrication method—a factor often overlooked in the field. The team provides a comparative analysis of the structural and electrochemical performance of anodes fabricated via conventional slurry-casting versus solvent-free dry-processing, utilizing both lead-based (CsPbBr3) and lead-free (Cs2AgBiBr6) perovskites.
The researchers discovered that the conventional slurry process induces a catastrophic degradation of the CsPbBr3 structure into its constituent products before cycling even begins. In contrast, the dry-processing method successfully preserves the pristine crystalline phase of the material. Consequently, the dry-fabricated CsPbBr3 electrode exhibits excellent cycling stability driven by a reversible Li-Pb alloying mechanism, significantly outperforming the rapidly fading Cs2AgBiBr6 anode. These findings highlight that for this class of sensitive materials, optimizing the fabrication process to prevent chemical degradation is a primary and critical step toward achieving stable electrochemical performance.
Funding: The research project is implemented in the framework of the H.F.R.I call "Basic research Financing (Horizontal support of all Sciences)" under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan "Greece 2.0" funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU (H.F.R.I. Project No. 16465).
Publication: K. Markopoulos, F. Bairamis, G. Zardalidis, et al. “Processing and Compositional Effects on the Stability of All-Inorganic Metal Halide Perovskite Anodes: A Comparative Study of Dry- vs. Slurry-Fabricated Electrodes.” Advanced Materials Technologies (2026): e02618. https://doi.org/10.1002/admt.202502618
Research Paper Featured in JPhys Materials Curated Collection
The peer-reviewed research paper entitled “Self-powered, flexible and room temperature operated solution processed hybrid metal halide p-type sensing element for efficient hydrogen detection”, resulting from a collaboration between the Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser (IESL–FORTH), the University of Crete, and the Hellenic Mediterranean University (HMU), has been selected for inclusion in a curated collection of JPhys Materials (IOP Publishing).
This curated collection highlights outstanding publications in the field of Functional Intelligent Materials and is compiled by members of the journal’s Editorial Board with expertise in functional materials.
The collection is updated bi-annually and features recent high-impact papers published in JPhys Materials that demonstrate scientific excellence and innovation.
This distinction reflects the quality, impact, and relevance of the research and underscores the strength of the collaborative effort.
Abstract
Hydrogen (H2) is a well-known reduction gas and for safety reasons is very important to be detected. The most common systems employed along its detection are metal oxide-based elements. However, the latter demand complex and expensive manufacturing techniques, while they also need high temperatures or UV light to operate effectively. In this work, we first report a solution processed hybrid mixed halide spin coated perovskite films (CH3NH3PbI3−xClx) that have been successfully applied as portable, flexible, self-powered, fast and sensitive hydrogen sensing elements, operating at room temperature. The minimum concentrations of H2 gas that could be detected was down to 10 ppm. This work provides a new pathway on gases interaction with perovskite materials, poses new questions that must be addressed regarding the sensing mechanisms involved. The utilization of halide perovskite sensing elements demonstrates their potential beyond solar cell applications.
Reference
Gagaoudakis, E., Panagiotopoulos, A., Maksudov, T., Moschogiannaki, M., Katerinopoulou, D., Kakavelakis, G., ... & Petridis, K. (2020). Self-powered, flexible and room temperature operated solution processed hybrid metal halide p-type sensing element for efficient hydrogen detection. Journal of Physics: Materials, 3(1), 014010. Doi: 10.1088/2515-7639/ab60c3
The Soft Matter Division of IESL-FORTH demonstrated its scientific excellence during the 15th Hellenic Polymer Society International Conference (POLYCONF15), held in Patras during December 3-6, 2025.
We are particularly proud for two of our talented PhD students who were awarded top honors at the conference:
Ms. Franceska Gojda from the Functional Polymer Nanostructures group, working under the supervision of Dr. Kiriaki Chrissopoulou and Prof. Spiros H. Anastasiadis, received a Best Oral Presentation Award, for her innovative research on the development of superhydrophobic polymer nanocomposite coatings exhibiting water repellent properties for antifouling and antimicrobial applications.
Ms. Thaleia-Michaela Chatzaki from the Polymer Electronics and Bioelectronics Lab, supervised by Dr. Eleni Pavlopoulou, received a Best Poster Award for her outstanding research on the development of novel PEDOT-based blends for electronic skin applications.
These prestigious awards during this illustrious gathering of polymer scientists from Greece and abroad reflect the exceptional talent of our PhD students and the world-class research environment within the Soft Matter Division of IESL.
We congratulate Franceska and Michaela on their well-deserved recognition.
Laser-assisted cleaning has become an essential tool in cultural heritage conservation, offering unmatched precision, control, and environmental compatibility. Yet, the complexity of surface deposits and the fragile condition of historic materials demand continuous monitoring to ensure safe and effective restoration.
At the Institute of Electronic Structure & Laser (IESL) – FORTH, researchers are addressing these challenges by developing next-generation methodologies that bridge high-end technology with the specific needs of cultural heritage preservation.
Building on this commitment to innovation, we are proud to announce the publication of the latest breakthrough study of the Photonics for Heritage Science group (https://www.iesl.forth.gr/en/research/photonics-heritage-science, https://phohs.iesl.forth.gr/) at IESL - FORTH: “Machine learning assisted real-time acoustic monitoring of laser cleaning in Heritage conservation,” published in npj Heritage Science, part of the Nature Partner Journals (npj) Series. Authored by Georgios D. Barmparis, Kristalia Melessanaki, G. P. Tsironis, George Tserevelakis, and Paraskevi Pouli, in collaboration with A.- N. Raikidis (undergraduate student) from the Department of Physics at the University of Crete, this work represents a major step toward data-driven, intelligent restoration technologies.
This study marks the beginning of a new era in laser cleaning for Heritage conservation — the first feasibility study demonstrating how real-time acoustic monitoring, combined with explainable machine learning models, can guide conservators in making informed decisions during laser cleaning. By analyzing the acoustic signatures generated during the laser–material interaction, the method can identify the exact laser pulse that fully removes unwanted layers without risking damage to the original artwork or substrate.
This research opens a new chapter in heritage conservation — where advanced AI meets the delicate art of preserving cultural treasures. It sets the foundation for smart, reliable, and safe laser cleaning protocols that support conservators in their mission to protect and restore our shared cultural heritage.
Read the full article here: https://rdcu.be/eS3QR
Πέρασαν κιόλας 40 ημέρες που η οικογένεια του ΙΗΔΛ έχασε έναν εξαιρετικό ερευνητή και αγαπητό συνάδελφο, τον Αντώνη Ανδριώτη, ο οποίος έφυγε από τη ζωή την 1.10.2025 στη Μυτιλήνη. Από τους πρώτους ερευνητές του ΙΗΔΛ και του ΙΤΕ, ο Ανδριώτης εντάχθηκε το 1989 στο δυναμικό του Ινστιτούτου, όπου υπηρέτησε αρχικώς ως Κύριος Ερευνητής και από το 2002 μέχρι την αφυπηρέτησή του, το 2014, ως Διευθυντής Ερευνών. Υπήρξε επιβλέπων σε 6 πτυχιακές εργασίες και σε 4 διδακτορικές διατριβές (Δ. Ζαχαριουδάκης, Ι. Παπαδόγγονας, Ζ. Φθενάκης, Ν. Λαθιωτάκης). Κατά την τελευταία δεκαετία παρέμεινε επιστημονικά ενεργός ως Ομότιμος Ερευνητής του Ινστιτούτου, δημοσιεύοντας επιστημονικά άρθρα μέχρι και τα μέσα του 2025. Παράλληλα με την ερευνητική του θέση στο ΙΗΔΛ, κατά την περίοδο 1990-97, δίδαξε ως επισκέπτης καθηγητής στο Τμήμα Φυσικής του Πανεπιστημίου Κρήτης, εισάγοντας δύο νέα προπτυχιακά μαθήματα Υπολογιστικής Φυσικής και ένα μεταπτυχιακό (με έμφαση στη Φυσική Στερεάς Κατάστασης) τα οποία ήταν πρωτοπόρα και μοναδικά για τα ελληνικά δεδομένα της εποχής. Συμμετείχε επίσης επί σειρά ετών ως διδάσκων στο Θερινό Σχολείο Προχωρημένης Φυσικής του Πανεπιστημίου Κρήτης ενώ περιοδικώς υπήρξε και συντονιστής του Σχολείου.
Γεννημένος στη Μυτιλήνη (23.09.1947), ο Ανδριώτης σπούδασε Φυσική στο ΕΚΠΑ και μετά την αποφοίτησή του (1970) συνέχισε τις σπουδές του στο Πανεπιστήμιο του Cape Town, απ’ όπου έλαβε το διδακτορικό το δίπλωμα το 1976. Το 1979, μετά από 28-μηνη στρατιωτική θητεία, εντάχθηκε στο ερευνητικό δυναμικό του Ινστιτούτου Θεωρητικής και Φυσικής Χημείας του Εθνικού Ιδρύματος Ερευνών (Αθήνα), όπου υπηρέτησε ως ερευνητής μέχρι το 1989 οπότε και μετακινήθηκε στην Κρήτη.
Το δημοσιευμένο ερευνητικό έργο του Αντώνη Ανδριώτη είναι πλούσιο και ευρέως αναγνωρισμένο, αριθμώντας άνω των 150 άρθρων σε έγκριτα επιστημονικά περιοδικά. Η έρευνά του εμπίπτει στην περιοχή της Θεωρητικής και Υπολογιστικής Φυσικής των Στερεών και η συμβολή του στο πεδίο εστιάστηκε κυρίως στην ανάπτυξη νέων θεωρητικών μεθόδων και υπολογιστικών μοντέλων με στόχο τον προσδιορισμό και την κατανόηση ηλεκτρικών, μαγνητικών και οπτικών ιδιοτήτων μορίων και (νανο-) υλικών. Διατήρησε παραγωγικές ερευνητικές συνεργασίες με σημαντικές επιστημονικές ομάδες σε διάφορα πανεπιστήμια και ερευνητικά κέντρα. Ενδεικτικά αναφέρονται τα Univ. of Urbana-Champaign (USA), Imperial College of Science and Technology London (UK), Univ. of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (South Africa), Florida Atlantic Univ., Boca-Raton (USA), Univ. Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon (F) και το Center of Computational Sciences, Univ. of Kentucky at Lexington (USA). Σημειώνεται ότι σε επίπεδο υποδομών, καταλυτική υπήρξε η συμβολή του Ανδριώτη στην ίδρυση του υπολογιστικού κέντρου στο ΙΗΔΛ, του οποίου διετέλεσε Διευθυντής κατά την περίοδο 1992-93.
Από το συγγραφικό του έργο διαφαίνεται το έντονο ενδιαφέρον του Ανδριώτη για τους φοιτητές και τους νέους ερευνητές, μέσω των δύο βιβλίων του Υπολογιστικής Φυσικής (1995, 1999) τα οποία συμπυκνώνουν το υλικό των διαλέξεων του στα μαθήματα που δίδαξε στο Φυσικό Τμήμα του Πανεπιστημίου Κρήτης. Έχει επίσης συγγράψει ένα βιβλίο με τίτλο «Ήμουν κι’ εγώ παρών κατά το Big-Bang. Η ευφυΐα της ενέργειας». Ξέχωρη όμως θέση στο έργο και την καρδιά του Ανδριώτη κατέχει ο Βενιαμίν ο Λέσβιος, εκπρόσωπος του Νεοελληνικού Διαφωτισμού. Η θεωρία του τελευταίου για το «Πανταχηκίνητο» αποτέλεσε θέμα μελέτης του Ανδριώτη, η οποία αναπτύσσεται στο βιβλίο του «Η Θεωρία του Πανταχηκινήτου του Βενιαμίν του Λεσβίου, Από τον αιθέρα των Καρτεσιανών στην παγκοσμιότητα και τον δυϊσμό των φαινομένων μεταφοράς της ενέργειας» (2008). Το καλοκαίρι του 2024, ο Ανδριώτης οργάνωσε στο Πλωμάρι της Λέσβου το Διεθνές Συνέδριο «Βενιαμίν Λέσβιος (1759-1824), ο Φιλόσοφος, ο Φιλικός, ο Δάσκαλος του Γένους. 200 Χρόνια από τον Θάνατό του», τα πρακτικά του οποίου πρόκειται να εκδοθούν από το Κέντρο Ερεύνης του Μεσαιωνικού και Νέου Ελληνισμού της Ακαδημίας Αθηνών.
Ο Αντώνης Ανδριώτης υπήρξε μια εμβληματική μορφή του ΙΗΔΛ, όχι μόνο χάρη στη σημαντική επιστημονική του συνεισφορά και την αφοσίωσή του στην έρευνα, αλλά και μέσα από την ανθρώπινη παρουσία του, που σημάδεψε με το ήθος, τη σεμνότητα και το ήρεμο πνεύμα του όλους εμάς που είχαμε την τιμή να συνεργαστούμε μαζί του. Υπήρξε ο πρώτος Ερευνητής που αφυπηρέτησε από το Ινστιτούτο μετά από 25 χρόνια προσφοράς, αφήνοντας πίσω του μια πορεία που εξακολουθεί να αποτελεί πηγή έμπνευσης και καθοδήγησης για τις νεότερες γενιές ερευνητών και συνεργατών.
Ο ίδιος ο Ανδριώτης έχει αφήσει την επιστημονική του πορεία και την περιγραφή του ερευνητικού και συγγραφικού του έργου στην προσωπική του ιστοσελίδα.
Researchers from IESL/FORTH, in collaboration with international partners from CEMES, LAAS, INSA, CNRS (France) and Universität Darmstadt (Germany), demonstrate that silicon nanoantennas can dramatically enhance the optical response of atomically thin semiconductors. By coupling monolayer MoS2 to resonant silicon nanostructures, they achieved up to a 30-fold enhancement in second-harmonic generation, together with significant increases in photoluminescence and Raman efficiencies. This study also disentangles the distinct physical origins of enhancement across different optical processes, paving the way for next-generation nanophotonic and quantum technologies.
Summary
The researchers reported that silicon-based dielectric nanoantennas offer an effective platform for engineering light–matter interactions in van der Waals semiconductors. They explained that they had demonstrated near-field coupling between monolayer MoS₂ and silicon nanoantennas arranged in hexagonal lattices with tunable geometric parameters, which led to a threefold enhancement in photoluminescence and an excitation-wavelength-dependent emission aligned with Mie-resonant modes. They added that Raman spectroscopy showed up to an eightfold enhancement in the vibrational modes of MoS₂, while second-harmonic generation exhibited a 20–30-fold increase in efficiency, closely linked to the presence of the nanoantennas. According to them, both experiments and simulations quantified the tunable advantages of the near-field interactions, considering thin-film interference and strain-induced effects. In conclusion, their study highlights the potential of dielectric nanoantennas as a key tool for advancing next-generation nanophotonic technologies.
Reference:
Katrisioti, D., Wiecha, P. R., Cuche, A., Psilodimitrakopoulos, S., Larrieu, G., Müller, J., ... & Paradisanos, I. (2025). Silicon nanoantennas for tailoring the optical properties of MoS2 monolayers, Appl. Phys. Lett., 127(18), 181101. doi: https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0284138
