Division: Physical Chemistry Specialty: Molecular Spectroscopy Phone: 502-852-1223 Email: j.liu@louisville.edu Research group webpage: https://sites.google.com/site/uofllaserlabs/home

1999 B.S. East China Normal University
1999-2001 State Key Laboratory for Optical and Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (now State Key Laboratory of Precision Spectroscopy) Shanghai, Research Assistant
2007 Ph.D. The Ohio State University
2007-2010 Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, Postdoctoral Researcher
2010-2011 The Ohio State University, Postdoctoral Researcher

Research in the Liu Group consists of spectroscopic studies on gas-phase molecules and molecular complexes, and condensed-phase materials in both frequency domain (using high-resolution lasers) and time domain (using ultrafast laser systems). Our high-resolution studies center around the spectroscopic detection and characterization of reactive chemical intermediates, e.g., free radicals, molecular ions, and molecules in excited electronic states. [Selected publication 1,2,4.] These studies lead to a detailed understanding of molecular structures and dynamics, and the nature of chemical bonding. Unambiguous identification and analysis of the experimentally obtained spectra is a prerequisite to our subsequent work on the chemical reactions that involve these intermediates. We are particularly interested in molecular species with so-called Jahn-Teller effect. This effect causes spontaneous distortion of the symmetry of polyatomic molecules and crystal structure and is associated with many interesting phenomena such as superconductivity. [Selected publication 1.] Quantum chemistry calculations are used to help understanding these molecules and molecular systems.

The goal of the ultrafast spectroscopy study in the Liu Group, which is carried out in the Ultrafast Laser Facility in the Conn Center for Renewable Energy Research, is to contribute to the advancement of renewable energy science and technology through basic spectroscopic studies. Currently, our research efforts are focused on the characterization of solar cell materials and understanding the fundamental dynamical processes in the materials and their interfaces, which are essential to their functions and applications.

Current research interests of the Liu group include studies on molecular complexes with non-covalent interactions. This kind of interactions is responsible for the very existence of a condense phase and is responsible for the structure of bio-macromolecules and molecular recognition in life processes. Radiation in the tetrahertz frequency region (between the microwave and infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum) can be generated using either the ultrafast lasers or the high-resolution lasers, [Selected publication 3]. This allows the non-covalent interactions to be studied in this less explored region and with unprecedented accuracy.

 

Research opportunities for undergraduates, graduate students (as Research Assistants), and post-docs are available. 

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