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The history of the Liquid Crystal and Photon Technology Research Center at Nanjing University can be traced back to the crystal growth research laboratory of Mr. Min Naiben's research group in the Physics Department of Nanjing University, which was established in the 1980s. Under the leadership of Mr. Min Naiben, the research laboratory has continuously undertaken projects in the field of new materials under the "Seventh Five Year Plan", "Eighth Five Year Plan", and "Ninth Five Year Plan" national plans. A series of influential achievements have been made in the growth of "poly sheet multi domain" optical superlattice lithium niobate crystals and the development of blue light frequency doubling devices. In 1996, it passed the project achievement appraisal organized by the former State Education Commission and was praised as an "internationally leading level work".
In 1996, Dr. Lu Yanqing graduated and stayed on campus, teaching in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, responsible for crystal growth research. He continued to make breakthroughs in the fields of ionic phononic crystals and the electro-optic effect of periodically polarized lithium niobate. His related achievements were honored with "Top 10 News in Chinese Basic Science Research in 1999" and "Top 10 Scientific and Technological Advances in Higher Education Institutions in 1999", and were highlighted in the annual report of the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the "2000 Scientific Development Report" of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. From 2000 to 2006, Lu Yanqing went to the United States and worked in research and development at overseas fiber optic communication companies such as Chorum Tech and universities such as UCF (CREOL). At the end of 2006, Lu Yanqing was hired to return to Nanjing University to teach and established the "Liquid Crystal and Micro Nano Optics Research Group". With the continuous expansion of the research group, the continuous expansion of disciplinary directions, and the steady improvement of scientific research strength, the initial research group gradually developed into the current "Nanjing University Liquid Crystal and Photon Technology Research Center".
Our center currently has 21 full-time teachers (professors/associate professors/assistant professors), 3 full-time researchers, 5 postdoctoral fellows, 4 research assistants, and over 80 doctoral and master's students. The center focuses on the forefront of optics and photonics technology, closely adhering to the "four orientations" and characterized by interdisciplinary intersection, forming four core research directions: liquid crystal and soft matter photonics, flexible electronics and intelligent sensing, metamaterials and micro nano optics, quantum optics and nonlinear optics. Continuously promote the deep integration of optical basic research and industrial applications through fundamental innovation and technological breakthroughs.
In the field of liquid crystal and soft matter photonics, we delve into the light regulation mechanisms of soft matter materials such as liquid crystals. Through molecular self-assembly and structured design, we construct micro nano and topological structures and develop multi band efficient light field regulation components. The relevant achievements have been transformed and applied in fields such as communication, imaging, and laser technology. The team balances basic research with industrial applications, providing important support for the innovative development and technological transformation of soft matter photonics.
In the field of flexible electronics and intelligent sensing and control, we are committed to breaking through the limitations of traditional rigid devices. By integrating optoelectronic technology, flexible materials, and micro nano manufacturing, we develop stretchable and highly sensitive intelligent sensing systems to achieve collaborative sensing and real-time control of multiple physical field signals such as light, heat, and electricity. This has shown broad application prospects in health monitoring, human-computer interaction, environmental sensing, and other fields, promoting the construction of a "distributed intelligent" sensing system.
In the field of metamaterials and micro nano optics, focusing on the optical field regulation of sub wavelength micro nano structures, exploring the precise manipulation of multidimensional properties such as frequency, phase, and polarization of light by metamaterials and metamaterial surfaces, and achieving fruitful results in imaging, sensing, full-color display, optical computing, and other fields. The team is guided by compatible semiconductor processes, promoting the development and integration of low-cost, high-performance devices to serve national strategies and industry needs.
In the field of quantum optics and nonlinear optics, we have delved into the manipulation of quantum states and the interaction mechanism between light and matter. We have made breakthrough progress in areas such as quantum entanglement, chiral optics, and ultrafast spectroscopy, and independently developed advanced characterization technologies to reveal new mechanisms for energy conversion in optoelectronic materials. The research results have been published in multiple top international journals, laying the foundation for quantum information devices and efficient optoelectronic conversion technology.
Our members have undertaken dozens of national and provincial-level scientific research projects, including 973, 863, National Key R&D Program projects, JKW projects, National Natural Science Foundation of China, Jiangsu Provincial Natural Science Foundation, and enterprise cooperation projects. Published over 400 papers in journals such as Science, Nature/Science, PRL, Adv. Mater., and translated or implemented 4 patents. Among them, the performance evaluation of the completed national key research and development plan projects has been excellent, forming distinctive research paradigms in micro nano optics represented by metasurfaces and soft matter photonics represented by liquid crystals. The series of research achievements have successively won the top ten advances in Chinese optics in 2018, 2019, and 2023, the first prize of Jiangsu Science and Technology Award in 2020, the annual progress of American Optical Society in 2020 and 2022, the first prize of Natural Science Award of Chinese Optical Engineering Society in 2023, and the first prize of Natural Science Award of Chinese Optical Society in 2024.
The Liquid Crystal and Photon Technology Research Center of Nanjing University takes the international first-class research team as the benchmark, takes it as its responsibility to develop a new generation of original optoelectronic information technology, leverages its unique advantages, continuously explores and advances, and strives to continuously achieve new results in scientific research and talent cultivation!