Dr. Daniel Lanzillotti Kimura

About
Daniel Lanzillotti Kimura (Norberto Daniel Lanzillotti-Kimura) is a CNRS Research Director (Directeur de Recherche) at the Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (C2N, CNRS/Université Paris-Saclay). His research focuses on nanophononics, nanoacoustics and nanoscale phonon engineering. He is an ERC Starting Grant and ERC Consolidator Grant recipient and also contributes to European research strategy and programmes at CNRS.
As a scientist, he investigates how acoustic phonons and mechanical vibrations can be generated, manipulated, confined and detected at the nanoscale. His research spans nanophononics, nanoacoustics, optomechanics, topological nanophononics and reconfigurable acoustic systems.
Alongside his scientific activity, he contributes to the European strategy of the CNRS: its positioning and influence in the European Research Area, its participation in European programmes, the mechanisms supporting scientists engaging in European projects, and the preparation of CNRS for the future European Framework Programme.
He has experienced the European research ecosystem from several perspectives: as an active scientist, as the recipient of both an ERC Starting Grant and an ERC Consolidator Grant, as an evaluator and today through his institutional responsibilities within CNRS.

Science
Controlling sound at the nanoscale
My scientific research focuses on nanophononics: the study and control of acoustic phonons at nanometric scales.
Just as photonics provides tools to generate, manipulate and detect light, nanophononics seeks to develop similar capabilities for acoustic and mechanical excitations. Our research explores how phonons can be generated, confined, routed, manipulated and detected in engineered nanostructures, particularly at GHz and THz frequencies. The work lies at the intersection of acoustics, nanomechanics, photonics and condensed-matter physics, with potential connections to emerging quantum technologies.

Nanophononics & Nanoacoustics
At nanometric dimensions, acoustic waves can interact strongly with the geometry and physical properties of engineered structures.
We design and investigate nanoscale systems in which these interactions can be used to control the propagation and confinement of phonons. The objective is both fundamental — understanding acoustic excitations at these scales — and technological: developing new concepts for manipulating sound and mechanical vibrations in nanostructures.

Topological Nanophononics
Topological concepts offer new approaches for controlling waves and their propagation. We investigate how these concepts can be implemented in nanophononic structures to create and manipulate acoustic states with unusual localization and transport properties.

Optomechanics & Phonon–Photon Interactions
Nanostructures provide unique environments in which optical and mechanical excitations can interact. We study these interactions to understand how light can be used to generate, probe and manipulate acoustic phonons — and how mechanical excitations can, in turn, affect optical systems.

Reconfigurable Nanoacoustics
Most nanophononic structures acquire fixed properties during fabrication. We are interested in going beyond this limitation by developing systems whose acoustic behaviour can be modified after fabrication.The long-term objective is to explore reconfigurable and potentially programmable nanophononic systems.

Research Vision
Can we control sound as precisely as we control light?
Photonics has transformed our ability to generate, manipulate, transmit and detect photons. A central question driving my research is whether a comparable degree of control can be achieved for phonons. This means developing a toolbox capable of generating, routing, confining, manipulating and detecting mechanical excitations at the nanoscale, and understanding how they interact with photons and other physical degrees of freedom.

Selected European activities
As Scientific Delegate for CNRS European Strategy, I contribute to the evolution and implementation of the CNRS European roadmap, including European programmes, institutional influence and preparation for the future Framework Programme.

CNRS — EIC: Europe bets on breakthrough innovation, with CNRS at the forefront
Perspectives on EIC Pathfinder, European project coordination and emerging ARPA-inspired funding models. December 2025.