Alessandro Alabastri
· Assistant Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering Director, Applied Physics Graduate Program Core Member, Smalley-Curl InstituteRice University · Sociology
Active 2009–2026
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About
Alessandro Alabastri is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Rice University. He specializes in nanophotonics and computational modeling of photo-thermal interactions in complex nanostructures. His research focuses on light-to-heat conversion mechanisms, aiming to maximize heat dissipation in nanoparticle-based systems. Dr. Alabastri has developed predictive models for energy-conversion systems, including Photon Enhanced Thermionic Emission devices in collaboration with the European Space Agency, and Nanophotonics Enabled Solar Membrane Distillation modules at Rice University. He received his BSc and MSc in Engineering Physics from Politecnico di Milano, with specialization in Nano-Optics and Photonics. His Master’s project was completed at the Technical University of Denmark, working on the optical characterization of metamaterials. He earned his PhD in Nanosciences from the Italian Institute of Technology and University of Genoa, focusing on computational modeling of plasmonic structures. His professional experience includes a visiting research position at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and postdoctoral fellowships at Rice University, where he worked on theoretical nanophotonics and solar distillation devices. In 2020, he was promoted to a tenure-track assistant professor position at Rice University. Dr. Alabastri has been recognized with several honors, including the Texas Instruments Research Professorship from Rice…
Research topics
- Materials science
- Optoelectronics
- Physics
- Nanotechnology
- Chemistry
- Thermodynamics
- Quantum mechanics
- Environmental engineering
- Metallurgy
- Chromatography
Selected publications
Challenges in Plasmonic Catalysis
ACS Nano · 2020 · 364 citations
The use of nanoplasmonics to control light and heat close to the thermodynamic limit enables exciting opportunities in the field of plasmonic catalysis. The decay of plasmonic excitations creates highly nonequilibrium distributions of hot carriers that can initiate or catalyze reactions through both thermal and nonthermal pathways. In this Perspective, we present the current understanding in the field of plasmonic catalysis, capturing vibrant debates in the literature, and discuss future avenues…
ACS Nano · 2021 · 237 citations
The field of plasmonics is capable of enabling interesting applications in different wavelength ranges, spanning from the ultraviolet up to the infrared. The choice of plasmonic material and how the material is nanostructured has significant implications for ultimate performance of any plasmonic device. Artificially designed nanoporous metals (NPMs) have interesting material properties including large specific surface area, distinctive optical properties, high electrical conductivity, and reduce…
Solar steam generation on scalable ultrathin thermoplasmonic TiN nanocavity arrays
Nano Energy · 2021 · 82 citations
Resonant energy transfer enhances solar thermal desalination
Energy & Environmental Science · 2020 · 54 citations
1st authorCorrespondingWater production from solar thermal desalination is limited by the energy consumption of phase change. Resonant heat exchange between matched saline feed and purified distillate flow rates enables optimized recovery of vaporization energy.
A 3D Plasmonic Antenna-Reactor for Nanoscale Thermal Hotspots and Gradients
ACS Nano · 2021 · 47 citations
Plasmonic nanoantennas focus light below the diffraction limit, creating strong field enhancements, typically within a nanoscale junction. Placing a nanostructure within the junction can greatly enhance the nanostructure's innate optical absorption, resulting in intense photothermal heating that could ultimately compromise both the nanostructure and the nanoantenna. Here, we demonstrate a three-dimensional "antenna-reactor" geometry that results in large nanoscale thermal gradients, inducing lar…
Frequent coauthors
- 750 shared
Bharat Bhushan
- 302 shared
Bradley J. Nelson
ETH Zurich
- 283 shared
S. Siva Sankara Sai
Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning
- 273 shared
Lixin Dong
Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University
- 259 shared
Remo Proietti Zaccaria
Italian Institute of Technology
- 204 shared
Li Zhang
Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation
- 182 shared
Andréa Toma
Italian Institute of Technology
- 176 shared
Francesco De Angelis
Awards & honors
- Texas Instrument Research Professorship from Rice University…
- Association of American Universities, University Innovation…
- I-Corps Program (2017)
- NEWT Postdoctoral Leadership Fellowship (2016)
- ARIADNA grant from ESA - European Space Agency (2014)
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