Welcome to the Optoelectronics Laboratory!
We are a research group within the Department of Electrical and Information Engineering (DEI) at the Polytechnic University of Bari, led by Prof. Caterina Ciminelli.
Our expertise spans the modeling, design, simulation, fabrication, and characterization of optoelectronic, photonic, and nanoelectronic components, devices, and systems.
We operate at the micro- and nano-scale, investigating fundamental physical phenomena and developing enabling technologies for a wide range of applications.
Our core competencies include Integrated Photonics (IP) on platforms such as Indium Phosphide (InP), Silicon Nitride (SiN), Silicon (Si), Lithium Niobate (LiNbO₃), and polymers. These are complemented by advanced capabilities in RF/mixed-signal electronics, digital embedded systems, and hardware-oriented algorithm development.
Our research is primarily focused on aerospace and biomedical applications.
In the aerospace sector, we develop integrated photonic systems for navigation, communication, and remote sensing, including chip-scale optical gyroscopes, reconfigurable payloads for optical beamforming and waveform generation, and photonic signal processors for Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) systems. Complementary efforts address autonomous collision avoidance, LiDAR-based formation flying, efficient power management for nanosatellites, and radiation-hardened sensors for structural health monitoring.
Biomedical research focuses on high-sensitivity lab-on-chip biosensors, virus manipulation platforms, and hybrid electro-photonic systems for pathogen detection and biofilm analysis. Wearable systems integrating physiological sensing and stimulation support applications from clinical rehabilitation to astronaut health monitoring.
Our group also collaborates with deep-tech start-ups, offering custom design and rapid prototyping to accelerate technology transfer.
