Ultralow-threshold multiphoton-pumped lasing from colloidal nanoplatelets in solution

Liquid lasing from solutions of ligand-engineered semiconductor nanocrystals

Semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) can function as efficient gain materials with chemical versatility because of their surface ligands. Because the properties of NCs in solution are sensitive to ligand-environment interactions, local chemical changes can result in changes in the optical response. However, amplification of the optical response is technically challenging because of colloidal instability at NC concentrations needed for sufficient gain to overcome losses. This paper demonstrates liquid lasing from plasmonic lattice cavities integrated with ligand-engineered CdZnS/ZnS NCs dispersed in toluene and water. By taking advantage of calcium ion-induced aggregation of NCs in aqueous solutions, we show how lasing threshold can be used as a transduction signal for ion detection. Our work highlights how NC solutions and plasmonic lattices with open cavity architectures can serve as a biosensing platform for lab-on-chip devices.

Two-Color Amplified Spontaneous Emission from Auger-Suppressed Quantum Dots in Liquids

Colloidal quantum-dot (QD) lasing is normally achieved in close-packed solid-state films, as a high QD volume fraction is required for stimulated emission to outcompete fast Auger decay of optical-gain-active multiexciton states. Here a new type of liquid optical-gain medium is demonstrated, in which compact compositionally-graded QDs (ccg-QDs) that feature strong suppression of Auger decay are liquefied using a small amount of solvent. Transient absorption measurements of ccg-QD liquid suspensions reveal broad-band optical gain spanning a wide spectral range from 560 (green) to 675 nm (red). The gain magnitude is sufficient to realize a two-color amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) at 637 and 594 nm due to the band-edge (1S) and the excited-state (1P) transition, respectively. Importantly, the ASE regime is achieved using quasicontinuous excitation with nanosecond pulses. Furthermore, the ASE is highly stable under prolonged excitation, which stands in contrast to traditional dyes that exhibit strong degradation under identical excitation conditions. These observations point toward a considerable potential of high-density ccg-QD suspensions as liquid, dye-like optical gain media that feature readily achievable spectral tunability and stable operation under intense photoexcitation.

Thickness-modulated optical nonlinearity of colloidal CdSe-CdS core-shell nanoplatelets: large two-photon absorption and self-focusing effects

As a one-dimensional quantum confined material, colloidal semiconductor nanoplatelets have been widely studied as potential nonlinear materials due to their strong exciton effect and large two-photon absorption cross-section similar to that of two-dimensional materials. In this work, CdSe-CdS core-shell nanoplatelets were synthesized and third-order nonlinear optical properties related to shell thickness were measured using the Z-scan method. Measurement revealed a monotonic increase in the imaginary part of the third-order nonlinear susceptibility (Imχ(3)) of CdSe-CdS nanoplatelets, ranging from 0.62 × 10-13 esu to 2.43 × 10-13 esu, with the growth of shell thickness. The real part of the third-order nonlinear susceptibility (Reχ(3)) shows a non-monotonic change between 4.28 × 10-13 esu and 1.99 × 10-13 esu. The trends were further elucidated by analyzing the optical properties of the nanoplatelets, such as absorption, photoluminescence, and quantum yield, and understanding the variations in defect distribution, exciton binding energy, and quantum confinement effects. The results indicated that the appropriate passivation of the CdS shell effectively enhanced the luminescent performance and third-order nonlinearity of the nanoplatelets, while the induced defects and weakened quantum confinement effects due to the continued shell growth resulted in the opposite effect.

Lateral surface passivation of CdSe nanoplatelets through crown management

Two-dimensional colloidal CdSe nanoplatelets (NPLs) have been considered as ideal emitting materials for high performance light-emitting devices due to their excellent optical properties. However, the understanding of defect related radiative and nonradiative recombination centers in CdSe NPLs is still far from sufficient, especially their physical distribution locations. In this work, CdSe core and CdSe/CdS core/crown NPLs have been successfully synthesized and their optical properties have been characterized by laser spectroscopies. It is found that the photoluminescence quantum yield of CdSe NPLs is improved by a factor of 4 after the growth of the CdS crown. At low temperatures, the change in the ratio of low and high energy emission intensities from NPLs suggests that the radiative recombination centers are mainly located on the lateral surface of the samples. This finding is further confirmed by the surface passivation experiment. Meanwhile, the nonradiative recombination centers of NPLs located on the lateral surface are also confirmed by ligand exchange. These results demonstrate the importance of understanding the optical properties of the lateral surface of NPLs, which are important for the design of material structures for optoelectronic applications.

Colloidal CdSe/CdS Core/Crown Nanoplatelets for Efficient Blue Light Emission and Optical Amplification

The application of CdSe nanoplatelets (NPLs) in the ultraviolet/blue region remains an open challenge due to charge trapping typically leading to limited photoluminescence quantum efficiency (PL QE) and sub-bandgap emission in core-only NPLs. Here, we synthesized 3.5 monolayer core/crown CdSe/CdS NPLs with various crown dimensions, exhibiting saturated blue emission and PL QE up to 55%. Compared to core-only NPLs, the PL intensity decays monoexponentially over two decades due to suppressed deep trapping and delayed emission. In both core-only and core/crown NPLs we observe biexciton-mediated optical gain between 470 and 510 nm, with material gain coefficients up to 7900 cm^-1 and consistently lower gain thresholds in crowned NPLs. Gain lifetimes are limited to 40 ps, due to residual ultrafast trapping and higher exciton densities at threshold. Our results provide guidelines for rational optimization of thin CdSe NPLs toward lighting and light-amplification applications.

2D II-VI Semiconductor Nanoplatelets: From Material Synthesis to Optoelectronic Integration

The field of colloidal synthesis of semiconductors emerged 40 years ago and has reached a certain level of maturity thanks to the use of nanocrystals as phosphors in commercial displays. In particular, II-VI semiconductors based on cadmium, zinc, or mercury chalcogenides can now be synthesized with tailored shapes, composition by alloying, and even as nanocrystal heterostructures. Fifteen years ago, II-VI semiconductor nanoplatelets injected new ideas into this field. Indeed, despite the emergence of other promising semiconductors such as halide perovskites or 2D transition metal dichalcogenides, colloidal II-VI semiconductor nanoplatelets remain among the narrowest room-temperature emitters that can be synthesized over a wide spectral range, and they exhibit good material stability over time. Such nanoplatelets are scientifically and technologically interesting because they exhibit optical features and production advantages at the intersection of those expected from colloidal quantum dots and epitaxial quantum wells. In organic solvents, gram-scale syntheses can produce nanoparticles with the same thicknesses and optical properties without inhomogeneous broadening. In such nanoplatelets, quantum confinement is limited to one dimension, defined at the atomic scale, which allows them to be treated as quantum wells. In this review, we discuss the synthetic developments, spectroscopic properties, and applications of such nanoplatelets. Covering growth mechanisms, we explain how a thorough understanding of nanoplatelet growth has enabled the development of nanoplatelets and heterostructured nanoplatelets with multiple emission colors, spatially localized excitations, narrow emission, and high quantum yields over a wide spectral range. Moreover, nanoplatelets, with their large lateral extension and their thin short axis and low dielectric surroundings, can support one or several electron-hole pairs with large exciton binding energies. Thus, we also discuss how the relaxation processes and lifetime of the carriers and excitons are modified in nanoplatelets compared to both spherical quantum dots and epitaxial quantum wells. Finally, we explore how nanoplatelets, with their strong and narrow emission, can be considered as ideal candidates for pure-color light emitting diodes (LEDs), strong gain media for lasers, or for use in luminescent light concentrators.

Optical and Scintillation Properties of Record-Efficiency CdTe Nanoplatelets toward Radiation Detection Applications

Colloidal CdTe nanoplatelets featuring a large absorption coefficient and ultrafast tunable luminescence coupled with heavy-metal-based composition present themselves as highly desirable candidates for radiation detection technologies. Historically, however, these nanoplatelets have suffered from poor emission efficiency, hindering progress in exploring their technological potential. Here, we report the synthesis of CdTe nanoplatelets possessing a record emission efficiency of 9%. This enables us to investigate their fundamental photophysics using ultrafast transient absorption, temperature-controlled photoluminescence, and radioluminescence measurements, elucidating the origins of exciton- and defect-related phenomena under both optical and ionizing excitation. For the first time in CdTe nanoplatelets, we report the cumulative effects of a giant oscillator strength transition and exciton fine structure. Simultaneously, thermally stimulated luminescence measurements reveal the presence of both shallow and deep trap states and allow us to disclose the trapping and detrapping dynamics and their influence on the scintillation properties.

Observation of optical gain from aqueous quantum well heterostructures in water

Although achieving optical gain using aqueous solutions of colloidal nanocrystals as a gain medium is exceptionally beneficial for bio-optoelectronic applications, the realization of optical gain in an aqueous medium using solution-processed nanocrystals has been extremely challenging because of the need for surface modification to make nanocrystals water dispersible while still maintaining their gain. Here, we present the achievement of optical gain in an aqueous medium using an advanced architecture of CdSe/CdS@Cd_xZn_1-xS core/crown@gradient-alloyed shell colloidal quantum wells (CQWs) with an ultralow threshold of ∼3.4 μJ cm^-2 and an ultralong gain lifetime of ∼2.6 ns. This demonstration of optical gain in an aqueous medium is a result of the carefully heterostructured CQWs having large absorption cross-section and gain cross-section in addition to inherently slow Auger recombination in these CQWs. Furthermore, we show low-threshold in-water amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) from these aqueous CQWs with a threshold of 120 μJ cm^-2. In addition, we demonstrate a whispering gallery mode laser with a low threshold of ∼30 μJ cm^-2 obtained by incorporating films of CQWs by exploiting layer-by-layer approach on a fiber. The observation of low-threshold optical gain with ultralong gain lifetime presents a significant step toward the realization of advanced optofluidic colloidal lasers and their continuous-wave pumping.

Colloidal Nanoribbons: From Infrared to Visible

Using the cation-exchange method, colloidal PbS nanoribbons are converted completely into CdS nanoribbons. This process expands the emission spectrum of the nanoribbons from infrared to visible. The morphology of nanoribbons remains the same after cation exchange, but the crystal structure changes from rock salt to zincblende. CdS nanoribbons exhibit blue band-edge photoluminescence under ultraviolet-light excitation. Cathodoluminescence spectroscopy of the CdS nanoribbons shows multicolor (blue, green, and red) emissions. Further time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy studies show that the lifetime of the midgap states is more than 2 orders of magnitude longer than that of the band-edge states.

Multifunctional and Transformative Metaphotonics with Emerging Materials

Future technologies underpinning multifunctional physical and chemical systems and compact biological sensors will rely on densely packed transformative and tunable circuitry employing nanophotonics. For many years, plasmonics was considered as the only available platform for subwavelength optics, but the recently emerged field of resonant metaphotonics may provide a versatile practical platform for nanoscale science by employing resonances in high-index dielectric nanoparticles and metasurfaces. Here, we discuss the recently emerged field of metaphotonics and describe its connection to material science and chemistry. For tunabilty, metaphotonics employs a variety of the recently highlighted materials such as polymers, perovskites, transition metal dichalcogenides, and phase change materials. This allows to achieve diverse functionalities of metasystems and metasurfaces for efficient spatial and temporal control of light by employing multipolar resonances and the physics of bound states in the continuum. We anticipate expanding applications of these concepts in nanolasers, tunable metadevices, metachemistry, as well as a design of a new generation of chemical and biological ultracompact sensing devices.

Ultralow-Threshold and High-Quality Whispering-Gallery-Mode Lasing from Colloidal Core/Hybrid-Shell Quantum Wells

The realization of efficient on-chip microlasers with scalable fabrication, ultralow threshold, and stable single-frequency operation is always desired for a wide range of miniaturized photonic systems. Herein, an effective way to fabricate nanostructures- whispering-gallery-mode (WGM) lasers by drop-casting CdSe/CdS@Cd_{1- x} Zn_x S core/buffer-shell@graded-shell nanoplatelets (NPLs) dispersion onto silica microspheres is presented. Benefiting from the excellent gain properties from the interface engineered core/hybrid shell NPLs and high-quality factor WGM resonator from excellent optical field confinement, the proposed room-temperature NPLs-WGM microlasers show a record-low lasing threshold of 3.26 µJ cm^-2 under nanosecond laser pumping among all colloidal NPLs-based lasing demonstrations. The presence of sharp discrete transverse electric- and magnetic-mode spikes, the inversely proportional dependence of the free spectra range on microsphere sizes and the polarization anisotropy of laser output represent the first direct experimental evidence for NPLs-WGM lasing nature, which is verified theoretically by the computed electric-field distribution inside the microcavity. Remarkably, a stable single-mode lasing output with an ultralow lasing threshold of 3.84 µJ cm^-2 is achieved by the Vernier effect through evanescent field coupling. The results highlight the significance of interface engineering on the optimization of gain properties of heterostructured nanomaterials and shed light on developing future miniaturized tunable coherent light sources.

Terahertz Charge Carrier Mobility in 1D and 2D Semiconductor Nanoparticles

We investigate the charge carrier mobility in 1D and 2D semiconductor nanoparticle domains with a focus on the interpretation of THz mobility measurements. We provide a microscopic understanding of the frequency-dependent charge carrier transport in these structures of finite lateral size. Yet unexplored oscillations in the frequency-dependent complex conductivity and a strong size dependence of the mobility are observed. The quantum nature of the charge carrier states results in oscillations in the frequency-dependent mobility for subresonant THz probing, seen in experiments. The effect is based on the lack of an energy continuum for the charge motion. In 2D systems the mobility is further governed by transitions in the two orthogonal x- and y-directions and depends nontrivially on the THz polarization, as well as the quantum well lateral aspect ratio, defining the energetic detuning of the lowest THz-photon transitions in both directions. We analyze the frequency, length, and effective mass dependencies.

Toward Engineering Intrinsic Line Widths and Line Broadening in Perovskite Nanoplatelets

Perovskite nanoplatelets possess extremely narrow absorption and emission line widths, which are crucial characteristics for many optical applications. However, their underlying intrinsic and extrinsic line-broadening mechanisms are poorly understood. Here, we apply multidimensional coherent spectroscopy to determine the homogeneous line broadening of colloidal perovskite nanoplatelet ensembles. We demonstrate a dependence of not only their intrinsic line widths but also of various broadening mechanisms on platelet geometry. We find that decreasing nanoplatelet thickness by a single monolayer results in a 2-fold reduction of the inhomogeneous line width and a 3-fold reduction of the intrinsic homogeneous line width to the sub-millielectronvolts regime. In addition, our measurements suggest homogeneously broadened exciton resonances in two-layer (but not necessarily three-layer) nanoplatelets at room-temperature.

Ultrahigh Green and Red Optical Gain Cross Sections from Solutions of Colloidal Quantum Well Heterostructures

We demonstrate amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) in solution with ultralow thresholds of 30 μJ/cm² in red and of 44 μJ/cm² in green from engineered colloidal quantum well (CQW) heterostructures. For this purpose, CdSe/CdS core/crown CQWs, designed to hit the green region, and CdSe/CdS@Cd_xZn_1-xS core/crown@gradient-alloyed shell CQWs, further tuned to reach the red region by shell alloying, were employed to achieve high-performance ASE in the visible range. The net modal gain of these CQWs reaches 530 cm^-1 for the green and 201 cm^-1 for the red, 2-3 orders of magnitude larger than those of colloidal quantum dots (QDs) in solution. To explain the root cause for ultrahigh gain coefficient in solution, we show for the first time that the gain cross sections of these CQWs is ≥3.3 × 10^-14 cm² in the green and ≥1.3 × 10^-14 cm² in the red, which are two orders of magnitude larger compared to those of CQDs.

Optical Microfluidic Waveguides and Solution Lasers of Colloidal Semiconductor Quantum Wells

The realization of high-quality lasers in microfluidic devices is crucial for numerous applications, including biological and chemical sensors and flow cytometry, and the development of advanced lab-on-chip (LOC) devices. Herein, an ultralow-threshold microfluidic single-mode laser is proposed and demonstrated using an on-chip cavity. CdSe/CdS@Cd_x Zn_{1- x} S core/crown@gradient-alloyed shell colloidal semiconductor quantum wells (CQWs) dispersed in toluene are employed in the cavity created inside a poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) microfluidic device using SiO₂ -protected Ag mirrors to achieve in-solution lasing. Lasing from such a microfluidic device having CQWs solution as a microfluidic gain medium is shown for the first time with a record-low optical gain threshold of 17.1 µJ cm^- ² and lasing threshold of 68.4 µJ cm^- ² among all solution-based lasing demonstrations. In addition, air-stable SiO₂ protected Ag films are used and designed to form highly tunable and reflective mirrors required to attain a high-quality Fabry-Pérot cavity. These realized record-low thresholds emanate from the high-quality on-chip cavity together with the core/crown@gradient-alloyed shell CQWs having giant gain cross-section and slow Auger rates. This microfabricated CQW laser provides a compact and inexpensive coherent light source for microfluidics and integrated optics covering the visible spectral region.

CdS Dots, Rods and Platelets-How to Obtain Predefined Shapes in a One-Pot Synthesis of Nanoparticles

In recent years, numerous protocols for nanoplatelet synthesis have been developed. Here, we present a facile, one-pot method for controlling cadmium sulfide (CdS) nanoparticles' shape that allows for obtaining zero-dimensional, one-dimensional, or two-dimensional structures. The proposed synthesis protocol is a simple heating-up approach and does not involve any inconvenient steps such as injection and/or pouring the precursors at elevated temperatures. Because of this, the synthesis protocol is highly repeatable. A gradual increase in the zinc acetate concentration causes the particles' shape to undergo a transition from isotropic quantum dots through rods to highly anisotropic nanoplatelets. We identified conditions at which synthesized platelets were purely five monolayers thick. All samples acquired during different stages of the reaction were characterized via optical spectroscopy, which allowed for the identification of the presence of high-temperature, magic-size clusters prior to the platelets' formation.

Synthesis of Atomically Thin CdTe Nanoplatelets by Using Polytelluride Tellurium Precursors

Colloidal two-dimensional (2D) semiconductor nanocrystals are of great importance due to their remarkable optical and electronic properties. Herein, shape-controllable synthesis of 2D wurtzite CdTe nanoplatelets (NPLs) by simply tailoring the reactivity of a tellurium (Te) precursor is reported. Ribbon-, shield-, and bullet-like 2D CdTe NPLs were prepared by a stepwise conversion from CdTe magic-size nanoclusters (MSNCs) by using Te32–, Te22–, and Te2– polytellurides as the tellurium precursor, respectively. This work not only develops a synthetic strategy capable of synthesising wurtzite CdTe nanoplatelets with controlled shapes by tailoring the reactivity of tellurium precursors but also gives insights into the growth mechanisms of colloidal 2D semiconductor nanocrystals.

Tuning exciton diffusion, mobility and emission line width in CdSe nanoplatelets via lateral size

We investigate the lateral size tunability of the exciton diffusion coefficient and mobility in colloidal quantum wells by means of line width analysis and theoretical modeling. We show that the exciton diffusion coefficient and mobility in laterally finite 2D systems like CdSe nanoplatelets can be tuned via the lateral size and aspect ratio. The coupling to acoustic and optical phonons can be altered via the lateral size and aspect ratio of the platelets. Subsequently the exciton diffusion and mobility become tunable since these phonon scattering processes determine and limit the mobility. At 4 K the exciton mobility increases from ∼ 4 × 103 cm2 V-1 s-1 to more than 1.4 × 104 cm2 V-1 s-1 for large platelets, while there are weaker changes with size and the mobility is around 8 × 101 cm2 V-1 s-1 for large platelets at room temperature. In turn at 4 K the exciton diffusion coefficient increases with the lateral size from ∼ 1.3 cm2 s-1 to ∼ 5 cm2 s-1, while it is around half the value for large platelets at room temperature. Our experimental results are in good agreement with theoretical modeling, showing a lateral size and aspect ratio dependence. The findings open up the possibility for materials with tunable exciton mobility, diffusion or emission line width, but quasi constant transition energy. High exciton mobility is desirable e.g. for solar cells and allows efficient excitation harvesting and extraction.

Anisotropic shape of CsPbBr3 colloidal nanocrystals: from 1D to 2D confinement effects

We synthesized strongly anisotropic CsPbBr₃ nanocrystals with very narrow emission and absorption lines associated to confinement effects along one or two dimensions, called respectively nanoplatelets (NPLs) and nanosticks (NSTs). Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) images, absorption and photoluminescence (PL) spectra taken at low temperature are very precise tools to determine which kind of confinement has to be considered and to deduce the shape, the size and the thickness of nanocrystals under focus. We show that the energy of the band-edge absorption and PL peaks versus the inverse of the square of the NPL thickness has a linear behaviour from 11 monolayers (MLs) i.e. a thickness of 6.38 nm, until 4 MLs (2.32 nm) showing that self-energy correction compensates the increase of the exciton binding energy in thin NPLs as already observed in Cadmium chalcogenides-based NPLs. We also show that slight changes in the morphology of NSTs leads to a very drastic modification of their absorption spectra. Time-resolved PL of NSTs has a non-monotonous behaviour with temperature. At 5 K, a quasi-single exponential with a lifetime of 80 ps is obtained; at intermediate temperature, the decay is bi-exponential and at 150 K, a quasi-single exponential decay is recovered (≈0.4 ns). For NSTs, the exciton interaction with LO phonons governs the broadening of the absorption and PL peaks at room temperature and is stronger than in chalcogenides quantum dots and NPLs.

Two-photon based pulse autocorrelation with CdSe nanoplatelets

We investigate broadband two-photon absorption autocorrelators based on II-VI semiconductor nanoplatelets as an alternative to common second harmonic generation based techniques. As compared to bulk materials the exceptionally high enhancement of two-photon absorption in these 2D structures results in very efficient two-photon absorption based autocorrelation detected via PL emission. We compare the results with TPA autocorrelation in CdS bulk as well as SHG based autocorrelation in β-barium borate. We show that CdSe nanoplatelet based autocorrelation can exceed the efficiency of conventional methods by two orders in magnitude, especially for short interaction length, and allows a precise pulse-width determination. We demonstrate that very high two-photon absorption cross sections of the nanoplatelets are the basis for this effective TPA autocorrelation. Based on our results with II-VI nanoplatelets efficient broadband autocorrelation with more than ∼100 nm bandwidth and very high sensitivity seems feasible.

Giant Alloyed Hot Injection Shells Enable Ultralow Optical Gain Threshold in Colloidal Quantum Wells

As an attractive materials system for high-performance optoelectronics, colloidal nanoplatelets (NPLs) benefit from atomic-level precision in thickness, minimizing emission inhomogeneous broadening. Much progress has been made to enhance their photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) and photostability. However, to date, layer-by-layer growth of shells at room temperature has resulted in defects that limit PLQY and thus curtail the performance of NPLs as an optical gain medium. Here, we introduce a hot-injection method growing giant alloyed shells using an approach that reduces core/shell lattice mismatch and suppresses Auger recombination. Near-unity PLQY is achieved with a narrow full-width-at-half-maximum (20 nm), accompanied by emission tunability (from 610 to 650 nm). The biexciton lifetime exceeds 1 ns, an order of magnitude longer than in conventional colloidal quantum dots (CQDs). Reduced Auger recombination enables record-low amplified spontaneous emission threshold of 2.4 μJ cm^-2 under one-photon pumping. This is lower by a factor of 2.5 than the best previously reported value in nanocrystals (6 μJ cm^-2 for CdSe/CdS NPLs). Here, we also report single-mode lasing operation with a 0.55 mJ cm^-2 threshold under two-photoexcitation, which is also the best among nanocrystals (compared to 0.76 mJ cm^-2 from CdSe/CdS CQDs in the Fabry-Pérot cavity). These findings indicate that hot-injection growth of thick alloyed shells makes ultrahigh performance NPLs.

Lasing from Mechanically Exfoliated 2D Homologous Ruddlesden-Popper Perovskite Engineered by Inorganic Layer Thickness

2D Ruddlesden-Popper perovskites (RPPs) have aroused growing attention in light harvesting and emission applications owing to their high environmental stability. Recently, coherent light emission of RPPs was reported, however mostly from inhomologous thin films that involve cascade intercompositional energy transfer. Lasing and fundamental understanding of intrinsic laser dynamics in homologous RPPs free from intercompositional energy transfer is still inadequate. Herein, the lasing and loss mechanisms of homologous 2D (BA)₂ (MA)_{n -1} Pb_n I_{3 n +1} RPP thin flakes mechanically exfoliated from the bulk crystal are reported. Multicolor lasing is achieved from the large-n RPPs (n ≥ 3) in the spectral range of 620-680 nm but not from small-n RPPs (n ≤ 2) even down to 78 K. With decreasing n, the lasing threshold increases significantly and the characteristic temperature decreases as 49, 25, and 20 K for n = 5, 4, and 3, respectively. The n-engineered lasing behaviors are attributed to the stronger Auger recombination and exciton-phonon interaction as a result of the enhanced quantum confinement in the smaller-n perovskites. These results not only advance the fundamental understanding of loss mechanisms in both inhomologous and homologous RPP lasers but also provide insights into developing low-threshold, substrate-free, and multicolor 2D semiconductor microlasers.

Reducing the Optical Gain Threshold in Two-Dimensional CdSe Nanoplatelets by the Giant Oscillator Strength Transition Effect

Two-dimensional CdSe nanoplatelets are promising lasing materials. Their large lateral areas reduce the optical gain threshold by increasing the oscillator strength and multiexciton lifetimes but also increase the gain threshold by requiring multiple band-edge excitons (>2) to reach the optical gain. We observe that the optical gain threshold of CdSe nanoplatelets at 4 K is ∼4-fold lower than that at room temperature. Transient absorption spectroscopy measurements indicate that the exciton center-of-mass coherent area is smaller than the lateral size at room temperature and extends to nearly the whole nanoplatelets at 4 K. This suggests that the reduction in the optical gain threshold at a low temperature can be attributed to exciton coherent area extension that reduces the saturation number of band-edge excitons to enable biexciton gain and increases the radiative decay rate, consistent with the giant oscillator strength transition effect. This work demonstrates a new direction for lowering the optical gain threshold of nanomaterials.

A comparative study demonstrates strong size tunability of carrier-phonon coupling in CdSe-based 2D and 0D nanocrystals

In a comparative study we investigate the carrier-phonon coupling in CdSe based core-only and hetero 2D as well as 0D nanoparticles. We demonstrate that the coupling can be strongly tuned by the lateral size of nanoplatelets, while, due to the weak lateral confinement, the transition energies are only altered by tens of meV. Our analysis shows that an increase in the lateral platelet area results in a strong decrease in the phonon coupling to acoustic modes due to deformation potential interaction, yielding an exciton deformation potential of 3.0 eV in line with theory. In contrast, coupling to optical modes tends to increase with the platelet area. This cannot be explained by Fröhlich interaction, which is generally dominant in II-VI materials. We compare CdSe/CdS nanoplatelets with their equivalent, spherical CdSe/CdS nanoparticles. Universally, in both systems the introduction of a CdS shell is shown to result in an increase of the average phonon coupling, mainly related to an increase of the coupling to acoustic modes, while the coupling to optical modes is reduced with increasing CdS layer thickness. The demonstrated size and CdS overgrowth tunability has strong implications for applications like tuning carrier cooling and carrier multiplication - relevant for solar energy harvesting applications. Other implications range from transport in nanosystems e.g. for field effect transistors or dephasing control. Our results open up a new toolbox for the design of photonic materials.

Giant Modal Gain Coefficients in Colloidal II-VI Nanoplatelets

Modal gain coefficient is a key figure of merit for a laser material. Previously, net modal gain coefficients larger than a few thousand cm^-1 were achieved in II-VI and III-V semiconductor gain media, but this required operation at cryogenic temperatures. In this work, using pump-fluence-dependent variable-stripe-length measurements, we show that colloidal CdSe nanoplatelets enable giant modal gain coefficients at room temperature up to 6600 cm^-1 under pulsed optical excitation. Furthermore, we show that exceptional gain performance is common to the family of CdSe nanoplatelets, as shown by examining samples having different vertical thicknesses and lateral areas. Overall, colloidal II-VI nanoplatelets with superior optical gain properties are promising for a broad range of applications, including high-speed light amplification and loss compensation in plasmonic photonic circuits.

Influence of morphology on the blinking mechanisms and the excitonic fine structure of single colloidal nanoplatelets

Colloidal semiconductor nanoplatelets with a similar electronic structure as quantum wells have recently emerged as exciting materials for optoelectronic applications. Here we investigate how morphology affects important photoluminescence properties of single CdSe and core/shell CdSe/CdZnS nanoplatelets. By analyzing photoluminescence intensity-lifetime correlation and second-order photon correlation results, we demonstrate that, irrespective of the morphology, Auger recombination plays only a minor role in dictating the blinking behavior of the nanoplatelets. We find that a rough shell induces additional nonradiative channels presumably related to defects or traps of an imperfect shell. Furthermore, polarization-resolved spectroscopy analysis reveals exciton fine-structure splitting of the order of several tens of meV in rough-shell nanoplatelets at room temperature, which is attributed to exciton localization and is substantiated by theoretical calculations taking into account the nanoplatelet shape and electron-hole exchange interaction.

Combined Computational and Experimental Study of CdSeS/ZnS Nanoplatelets: Structural, Vibrational, and Electronic Aspects of Core-Shell Interface Formation

In the past few years, core-shell nanoparticles have opened new perspectives for the optoelectronic applications of semiconductor quantum dots. In particular, it has become possible to localize electrons in either part of these heterostructures. Understanding and controlling this phenomenon require a thorough characterization of the interfaces. In this study, we prepared quasi-2D CdSeS/ZnS core-shell nanoplatelets (NPLs) by colloidal atomic layer deposition. This technique allows fine control over the quantum confinement, the surfaces, and the interfaces. The layer-by-layer formation of a the ZnS shell around the CdSeS core was monitored using UV-vis absorption, XRD, and Raman spectroscopy. The measured band gaps and structural distortions were compared with results obtained from density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Modeling has also shown that 34% of the photoexcited electrons are delocalized into the ZnS shell. The herein presented combined modeling and experimental characterization strategy is of general interest since it can be applied to a large choice of layered semiconductor heterostructures in optoelectronics. The present approach paves the way for the synthesis of nanocrystals with precisely engineered properties for light-emitting diodes and solar cells.

Impact of Shell Growth on Recombination Dynamics and Exciton-Phonon Interaction in CdSe-CdS Core-Shell Nanoplatelets

We investigate the impact of shell growth on the carrier dynamics and exciton-phonon coupling in CdSe-CdS core-shell nanoplatelets with varying shell thickness. We observe that the recombination dynamics can be prolonged by more than one order of magnitude, and analyze the results in a global rate model as well as with simulations including strain and excitonic effects. We reveal that type I band alignment in the hetero platelets is maintained at least up to three monolayers of CdS, resulting in approximately constant radiative rates. Hence, observed changes of decay dynamics are not the result of an increasingly different electron and hole exciton wave function delocalization as often assumed, but an increasingly better passivation of nonradiative surface defects by the shell. Based on a global analysis of time-resolved and time-integrated data, we recover and model the temperature dependent quantum yield of these nanostructures and show that CdS shell growth leads to a strong enhancement of the photoluminescence quantum yield. Our results explain, for example, the very high lasing gain observed in CdSe-CdS nanoplatelets due to the type I band alignment that also makes them interesting as solar energy concentrators. Further, we reveal that the exciton-LO-phonon coupling is strongly tunable by the CdS shell thickness, enabling emission line width and coherence length control.

Continuous-wave upconverting nanoparticle microlasers

Reducing the size of lasers to microscale dimensions enables new technologies¹ that are specifically tailored for operation in confined spaces ranging from ultra-high-speed microprocessors² to live brain tissue³. However, reduced cavity sizes increase optical losses and require greater input powers to reach lasing thresholds. Multiphoton-pumped lasers^4-7 that have been miniaturized using nanomaterials such as lanthanide-doped upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs)⁸ as lasing media require high pump intensities to achieve ultraviolet and visible emission and therefore operate under pulsed excitation schemes. Here, we make use of the recently described energy-looping excitation mechanism in Tm³⁺-doped UCNPs⁹ to achieve continuous-wave upconverted lasing action in stand-alone microcavities at excitation fluences as low as 14 kW cm^-2. Continuous-wave lasing is uninterrupted, maximizing signal and enabling modulation of optical interactions¹⁰. By coupling energy-looping nanoparticles to whispering-gallery modes of polystyrene microspheres, we induce stable lasing for more than 5 h at blue and near-infrared wavelengths simultaneously. These microcavities are excited in the biologically transmissive second near-infrared (NIR-II) window and are small enough to be embedded in organisms, tissues or devices. The ability to produce continuous-wave lasing in microcavities immersed in blood serum highlights practical applications of these microscale lasers for sensing and illumination in complex biological environments.

Efficient Solution-Processed Nanoplatelet-Based Light-Emitting Diodes with High Operational Stability in Air

Colloidal nanoplatelets (NPLs), owing to their efficient and narrow-band luminescence, are considered as promising candidates for solution-processable light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with ultrahigh color purity. To date, however, the record efficiencies of NPL-LEDs are significantly lower than those of more-investigated devices based on spherical nanocrystals. This is particularly true for red-emitting NPL-LEDs, the best-reported external quantum efficiency (EQE) of which is limited to 0.63% (EQE = 5% for green NPL-LEDs). Here, we address this issue by introducing a charge-regulating layer of a polar and polyelectrolytic polymer specifically engineered with complementary trimethylammonium and phosphonate functionalities that provide high solubility in orthogonal polar media with respect to the NPL active layer, compatibility with the metal cathode, and the ability to control electron injection through the formation of a polarized interface under bias. Through this synergic approach, we achieve EQE = 5.73% at 658 nm (color saturation 98%) in completely solution processed LEDs. Remarkably, exposure to air increases the EQE to 8.39%, exceeding the best reports of red NPL-LEDs by over 1 order of magnitude and setting a new global record for quantum-dot LEDs of any color embedding solution-deposited organic interlayers. Considering the emission quantum yield of the NPLs (40 ± 5%), this value corresponds to a near-unity internal quantum efficiency. Notably, our devices show exceptional operational stability for over 5 h of continuous drive in air with no encapsulation, thus confirming the potential of NPLs for efficient, high-stability, saturated LEDs.

Low-threshold lasing from colloidal CdSe/CdSeTe core/alloyed-crown type-II heteronanoplatelets

Colloidal type-II heterostructures are believed to be a promising solution-processed gain medium given their spatially separated electrons and holes for the suppression of Auger recombination and their wider emission tuning range from the visible to near-infrared region. Amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) was achieved from colloidal type-II core/shell nanocrystals several years ago. However, due to the limited charge-transfer (CT) interfacial states and minimal overlap of electron and hole wave functions, the ASE threshold has still been very high. Herein, we achieved ASE through type-II recombination at a lower threshold using CdSe/CdSeTe core/alloyed-crown nanoplatelets. Random lasing was also demonstrated in the film of these nanoplatelets under sub-ns laser-pumping. Through a detailed carrier dynamics investigation using femtosecond transient absorption, steady state, and time-resolved photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopies, we confirmed the type-II band alignment, and found that compared with normal CdSe/CdTe core/crown nanoplatelets (where no ASE/lasing was observed), CdSe/CdSeTe core/alloyed-crown nanoplatelets had a much higher PL quantum yield (75% vs. 31%), a ∼5-fold larger density of type-II charge-transfer states, a faster carrier transfer to interfaces (0.32 ps vs. 0.61 ps) and a slower Auger recombination lifetime (360 ps vs. 160 ps). Compared with CdSe/CdTe nanoplatelets, their counterparts with an alloyed crown boast a promoted charge transfer process, higher luminescence quantum yield, and smaller Auger rate, which results in their excellent application potential in solution-processed lasers and light-emitting devices.

All-inorganic CsPbBr3 perovskite quantum dots embedded in dual-mesoporous silica with moisture resistance for two-photon-pumped plasmonic nanoLasers

Lead halide perovskite nanocrystals with efficient two-photon absorption and ease of achieving population inversion have been recognized as good candidates to achieve frequency up-conversion for biophotonics applications, but suffer from the limitation of the miniaturization of the device and its corresponding poor stability when exposed to atmospheric moisture. Here we demonstrate the miniaturization of plasmonic nanolasers via embedding perovskite quantum dots (QDs) in rationally designed dual-mesoporous silica with gold nanocore. The nanocomposite supports resonant surface plasmon-polaritons (SPPs), which overlap both spatially and spectrally with the CsPbBr3 QDs. The outcoupling between surface plasmon oscillations and photonics modes within a wavelength range completely overcomes the loss of localized surface plasmons, and finally contributes to a novel application of two-photon-pumped nanolasers. Large optical gain under two-photon excitation was observed as a result of resonant energy transfer from excited perovskite QDs to surface plasmon oscillations and stimulated emission of surface plasmons in a luminous mode. The outmost organic-inorganic hybrid shells of the dual-mesoporous silica nanocomposites act as a protective layer of the perovskite QDs against water and endow the nanocomposites with superhydrophobicity. This work provides an alternative inspiration for the design of new two-photon pumped nanolasers.

A model for optical gain in colloidal nanoplatelets

Optical gain in CdSe nanoplatelets is shown to be independent on their lateral size and can be explained by a new optical gain model for 2D nanoplatelets.

Cadmium chalcogenide nanoplatelets (NPLs) and their heterostructures have been reported to have low gain thresholds and large gain coefficients, showing great potential for lasing applications. However, the further improvement of the optical gain properties of NPLs is hindered by a lack of models that can account for their optical gain characteristics and predict their dependence on the properties (such as lateral size, concentration, and/or optical density). Herein, we report a systematic study of optical gain (OG) in 4-monolayer thick CdSe NPLs by both transient absorption spectroscopy study of colloidal solutions and amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) measurement of thin films. We showed that comparing samples with the same optical density at the excitation, the OG threshold is not dependent of the NPL lateral area, while the saturation gain amplitude is dependent on the NPL lateral area when comparing samples with the same optical density at the excitation wavelength. Both the OG and ASE thresholds increase with the optical density at the excitation wavelength for samples of the same NPL thickness and lateral area. We proposed an OG model for NPLs that can successfully account for the observed lateral area and optical density dependences. The model reveals that OG originates from stimulated emission from the bi-exciton states and the OG threshold is reached when the average number of excitons per NPL is about half the occupation of the band-edge exciton states. The model can also rationalize the much lower OG thresholds in the NPLs compared to QDs. This work provides a microscopic understanding of the dependence of the OG properties on the morphology of the colloidal nanocrystals and important guidance for the rational optimization of the lasing performance of NPLs and other 1- and 2-dimensional nanocrystals.

Nonmonotonic Dependence of Auger Recombination Rate on Shell Thickness for CdSe/CdS Core/Shell Nanoplatelets

Nonradiative Auger recombination limits the efficiency with which colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals can emit light when they are subjected to strong excitation, with important implications for the application of the nanocrystals in light-emitting diodes and lasers. This has motivated attempts to engineer the structure of the nanocrystals to minimize Auger rates. Here, we study Auger recombination rates in CdSe/CdS core/shell nanoplatelets, or colloidal quantum wells. Using time-resolved photoluminescence measurements, we show that the rate of biexcitonic Auger recombination has a nonmonotonic dependence on the shell thickness, initially decreasing, reaching a minimum for shells with thickness of 2-4 monolayers, and then increasing with further increases in the shell thickness. This nonmonotonic behavior has not been observed previously for biexcitonic recombination in quantum dots, most likely due to inhomogeneous broadening that is not present for the nanoplatelets.

High-Efficiency Optical Gain in Type-II Semiconductor Nanocrystals of Alloyed Colloidal Quantum Wells

Colloidal nanocrystals having controlled size, tailored shape, and tuned composition have been explored for optical gain and lasing. Among these, nanocrystals having Type-II electronic structure have been introduced toward low-threshold gain. However, to date, their performance has remained severely limited due to diminishing oscillator strength and modest absorption cross-section. Overcoming these problems, here we realize highly efficient optical gain in Type-II nanocrystals by using alloyed colloidal quantum wells. With composition-tuned core/alloyed-crown CdSe/CdSe_xTe_1-x quantum wells, we achieved amplified spontaneous emission thresholds as low as 26 μJ/cm², long optical gain lifetimes (τ_gain ≈ 400 ps), and high modal gain coefficients (g_modal ≈ 930 cm^-1). We uncover that the optical gain in these Type-II quantum wells arises from the excitations localized to the alloyed-crown region that are electronically coupled to the charge-transfer state. These alloyed heteronanostructures exhibiting remarkable optical gain performance are expected to be highly appealing for future display and lighting technologies.

Cadmium Chalcogenide Nano-Heteroplatelets: Creating Advanced Nanostructured Materials by Shell Growth, Substitution, and Attachment

The current direction in the evolution of 2D semiconductor nanocrystals involves the combination of metal and semiconductor components to form new nanoengineered materials called nano-heteroplatelets. This Review covers different heterostructure architectures that can be applied to cadmium chalcogenide nanoplatelets, including variously shaped shell, metal nanoparticle decoration, and doped and alloy systems. Here, for the first time a complete classification of nano-heteroplatelet types is provided with recommended notations and a systematization of the existing knowledge and experience concerning heterostructure formation techniques, addressing the morphology, optoelectronic and magnetic properties, and novel features of different heterostructures. This Review is also devoted to possible applications of these heterostructures and of one-component nanoplatelets in multiple fields, including light-emitting devices and biological imaging.

Size-Dependent Biexciton Quantum Yields and Carrier Dynamics of Quasi-Two-Dimensional Core/Shell Nanoplatelets

Quasi-two-dimensional nanoplatelets (NPLs) possess fundamentally different excitonic properties from zero-dimensional quantum dots. We study lateral size-dependent photon emission statistics and carrier dynamics of individual NPLs using second-order photon correlation (g⁽²⁾(τ)) spectroscopy and photoluminescence (PL) intensity-dependent lifetime analysis. Room-temperature radiative lifetimes of NPLs can be derived from maximum PL intensity periods in PL time traces. It first decreases with NPL lateral size and then stays constant, deviating from the electric dipole approximation. Analysis of the PL time traces further reveals that the single exciton quantum yield in NPLs decreases with NPL lateral size and increases with protecting shell thickness, indicating the importance of surface passivation on NPL emission quality. Second-order photon correlation (g⁽²⁾(τ)) studies of single NPLs show that the biexciton quantum yield is strongly dependent on the lateral size and single exciton quantum yield of the NPLs. In large NPLs with unity single exciton quantum yield, the corresponding biexciton quantum yield can reach unity. These findings reveal that by careful growth control and core-shell material engineering, NPLs can be of great potential for light amplification and integrated quantum photonic applications.

Low Threshold Two-Photon-Pumped Amplified Spontaneous Emission in CH3NH3PbBr3 Microdisks

Two-photon-pumped amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) of CH3NH3PbBr3 microdisks (MDs) were investigated by using femtosecond laser system. Low threshold at 2.2 mJ cm(-2) was obtained. Also, emission spectral tunability from 500 to 570 nm was demonstrated by synthesis the mixed halide perovskite MDs. The spatial effect of photoluminescence (PL) properties under one-photon and two-photon excitation were also studied by means of two-photon laser scanning microscope (TPLSM) and time-resolved PL spectroscopy. It was found that the band to band emission of near-surface regions and photocarriers' diffusion from near-surface regions to interior regions is significant for one-photon excitation. By contrast, reabsorption of emission under two-photon excitation plays a major role in the emission properties of the MDs. These results will give a more comprehensive understanding of the nonlinear effect of CH3NH3PbBr3 single crystals.

Polarized three-photon-pumped laser in a single MOF microcrystal

Higher order multiphoton-pumped polarized lasers have fundamental technological importance. Although they can be used to in vivo imaging, their application has yet to be realized. Here we show the first polarized three-photon-pumped (3PP) microcavity laser in a single host-guest composite metal-organic framework (MOF) crystal, via a controllable in situ self-assembly strategy. The highly oriented assembly of dye molecules within the MOF provides an opportunity to achieve 3PP lasing with a low lasing threshold and a very high-quality factor on excitation. Furthermore, the 3PP lasing generated from composite MOF is perfectly polarized. These findings may eventually open up a new route to the exploitation of multiphoton-pumped solid-state laser in single MOF microcrystal (or nanocrystal) for future optoelectronic and biomedical applications.