Superconducting Single-Photon Detection Laboratory (SSPD Lab)
WHO WE ARE
Welcome to Superconducting Single-Photon Detection Laboratory (SSPD Lab) at Nanjing University. The aim of our group is the fundamental theoretical and experimental understanding of superconducting nanowire single-photon detector (SNSPD or SSPD), including its mechanisms, materials and devices, as well as applied research in cutting-edge scientific fields. Our research team is extremely interdisciplinary, so students and researchers with a background in electronics, physics, materials, etc. are highly welcomed. Please directly contact Prof. Zhang (Lzhang@nju.edu.cn) for any inquiries.
Team Member
Labao Zhang is a professor and doctoral supervisor at Nanjing University. Prof. Zhang's current research interest focuses on superconducting single-photon detection and application technology research. He has served as co-chair of the organizing committee of international academic conferences, and review expert of the natural fundings and various scientific and technological awards. He has published about 120 papers in the academic journals including National Science Review, Nature series journals, Nano Letters etc. and has been authorized 16 invention patents (including 2 international patents). Prof. Zhang has lectured undergraduate course (Mathematical Methods of Physics), and graduate courses (Advanced Electronic Engineering) in the School of Electronic Science and Engineering. E-mail: Lzhang@nju.edu.cn
Hao Wang is an assistant professor and doctoral supervisor at Nanjing University. He obtained his Doctoral degree in 2018 from Soochow University and spent three years studying abroad at Drexel University and Nanyang Technological University. In 2021, he joined the Research Institute of Superconductor Electronics (RISE) at Nanjing University, focusing on research into key material technologies for superconducting single-photon detection. He has published more than 80 SCI-indexed papers in Nat. Common., Adv. Mater., JACS, Nano Lett. etc., which have been cited over 6,000 times. He serves as a reviewer for international journals such as Nat. Commun., ACS Nano, Mater. Tod. Phys., and IEEE Elect. Dev. Lett. He is also a Young Editorial Board Member for journals including eScience and Mater. Futures. E-mail: wanghao91@nju.edu.cn
Qi Chen is an associate researcher at the Research Institute of Superconductor Electronics (RISE), Nanjing University. He has graduated with a bachelor's degree from the school of physics at Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics (NUAA) and has obtained the Ph.D. from the School of Electronic Science and Engineering at Nanjing University. He focuses on high-sensitivity superconducting single-photon detectors in the mid- to long-wave infrared range and related fundamental physics. He also engages in research on large-scale arrays of superconducting single-photon devices and extreme nanofabrication technologies. He has published over 20 papers in high-level journals, including Natl. Sci. Rev., Nat. Commun., Sci. Bull., and Phys. Rev. B, and holds 6 granted national invention patents. E-mail: chenqi@nju.edu.cn
Yanqiu Guan is a postdoctor at the Research Institute of Superconductor Electronics (RISE), Nanjing University. He obtained his Doctoral degree in 2025 from the School of Electronic Science and Engineering at Nanjing University. He focuses on research into array superconducting single-photon detectors and brain-inspired intelligent image sensors. He has published more than 20 SCI-indexed papers in Nat. Commun., ACS Photonics, Appl. Phys. Lett. etc. E-mail: yqguan@nju.edu.cn
WHAT WE DO
For More: Device Materials and Physics
Facing the bottlenecks of conventional device thin films, such as superconductivity, phonon relaxation, stability, etc., we are committed to the development of novel superconducting thin films and the precise regulation of their physical properties: (i) The construction of sputtering mode diagrams to accurately regulate the structural and physical properties of conventional nitride superconducting thin films; (ii) The controllable growth and non-destructive patterning of inch-scale van der Waals superconducting thin films; (iii) The development of novel highly stable amorphous superconducting thin films through heteroatom-doping engineering. Furthermore, we aim to reveal the physical mechanism of the photon response on new material systems, including the size effect of superconducting nanowires, the thermal coupling mechanism, the magnetic fluxes and phase slips excited by photons, which will provide a theoretical and material basis for enhancing device performance and expanding device functions.
For Greater: Extreme-Performance SSPDs
Aiming to meet the performance requirements from revolutionary technologies, we are committed to the customized development of extreme-performance SSPDs: (i) For quantum computing and quantum key distribution technologies, we have developed SNSPDs with high detection efficiency (> 90%) and low dark count rate (< 1 cps); (ii) For deep space laser communication and imaging, we have developed SNSPDs with high speed (> GHz) and high signal-to-noise ratio (approaching the standard quantum limit); (iii) For infrared astronomy, bioimaging, and atmospheric monitoring, we have carried out research on middle- and long-wave infrared (1-20 μm) SSPDs with high sensitivity and large-scale arrays. Meanwhile, we have simultaneously empowered SSPDs with more functionalities, such as in-sensor computing, quantum random number generation, polarization-insensitive, photon-number-resolving, high-energy particle detection, etc. All these advanced devices have demonstrated great power in practical applications.
WHERE WE GO
With the financial support from Natural Science Foundation of China and Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province, etc. our team has formed a full-link R&D system from mechanism, material, device to system, and developed several high-performance SSPDs, including 2*2 high-efficiency devices, miniaturized devices, kilo-pixel array devices, and long-wave infrared devices, which will play a key role in the cutting-edge fields of quantum information, biomedicine, and infrared astronomy.
