This episode welcomes Dr. Jingang Li, a pioneer in the field of micro robotics and nanotechnology. We discuss the groundbreaking progress in motor miniaturization and its impact on areas like drug delivery, nanotechnology, and biomedical engineering.

Dr. Li introduces us to the world of light-driven opto-thermocapillary nanomotors (OTNMs). These nanomotors operate on solid substrates, where they are free from the interference of Brownian motion that affects their counterparts in liquid environments. The OTNMs can cause the orbital rotation of 80 nm gold nanoparticles around a laser beam, a feat accomplished by optically controlling particle–substrate interactions and thermocapillary actuation.

The remarkable characteristic of these nanomotors is their on-chip operation capability in ambient environments, making them potential light-driven engines to power functional devices at the nanoscale. This breakthrough could herald the dawn of new developments in microtechnology and beyond.

Tune in to this enlightening conversation with Dr. Li, where we delve into the transformative potential of nanomotors.

Keywords: Dr. Jingang Li, Microrobotics, Nanotechnology, Light-driven Opto-thermocapillary Nanomotors, Brownian Motion, Gold Nanoparticles, Laser Beam, Drug Delivery, Biomedical Engineering, Particle-Substrate Interactions, Thermocapillary Actuation.

Opto-Thermocapillary Nanomotors on Solid Substrates Jingang Li, Pavana Siddhartha Kollipara, Ya Liu, Kan Yao, Yaoran Liu, and Yuebing Zheng* https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.1c09800