Jingang Li Group @ Purdue

Innovating Opto-Thermo-Matter Interactions at Multiscale

Optothermal Manipulation

We pioneer light-directed opto-thermo-mechanical coupling to develop novel optical manipulation technologies that transcend the limitations of conventional optical tweezers. By exploiting thermophoresis and other gradient forces, we control nanomaterial migration in laser-generated temperature fields. We also enable precise on-chip manipulation of nanomaterials through optothermal modulation of substrate-matter interactions by laser heating. These optothermal tools find diverse applications across many fields, including biology, nanorobotics, and neuromorphic computing.

Optical Measurement

We investigate fundamental light-matter and opto-thermo-matter interactions at the micro and nanoscaleto advance both scientific understanding and technological applications. Our research encompasses thermal transport, carrier dynamics, plasmonics, Mie resonances, and polaritonics across diverse material systems including 2D materials, semiconductor nanowires, and optical metamaterials. We employ a multimodal experimental toolkit: frequency-domain optical spectroscopy (e.g., dark-field scattering spectroscopy), space-domain techniuqes (e.g., scanning near-field optical microscopy), and time-domain ultrafast approaches (e.g., pump-probe optics).

Laser Processing

We innovate laser processing and optical nanomanufacturing by leveraging emerging principles of light-matter and opto-thermo-matter interactions at the micro and nanoscale. Our approaches enable precision fabrication, modification, reconfiguration, and conversion of nanomaterials with unprecedented control. Key capabilities include bottom-up optothermal assembly of architectural nanostructures using colloidal nanomaterials as building blocks, laser-aided processing of 2D materials, and light-driven site-specific photochemical reactions for controlled growth and patterning of quantum emitters. We aim to advance applications in photonics (reconfigurable metamaterials), electronics (functional device fabrication), and sustainable technologies (material recycling and environmental remediation).