Tunable perovskite microdisk lasers

Electrically Switchable Amplified Spontaneous Emission from Lead Halide Perovskite Film

Electrically tunable optical devices that allow for modulation and detection of the optical signals would be extremely beneficial for the next photonic and electronic technologies. Perovskite materials as an emerging excitonic one provide promising platforms because they offer excitons manipulated by an external electrical field and efficient coupling to light. However, so far, electrically modulated switches based on perovskite amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) still remain unexplored. Here, we prepared perovskite films on indium tin oxide substrates by a spin-coating method and characterized their ASE behaviors. Based on it, we designed and fabricated electrically switchable ASE devices of perovskite film based on a light-emitting diode device configuration. Under the externally applied current, this device exhibits good controllable optoelectronic switching behaviors. Furthermore, this photoelectric response can be modulated by the different current densities. Our strategy for electrically switchable perovskite ASE will promote integrated applications in optoelectronic devices and provide valuable experience for the development of electrically pumped perovskite lasers.

Low-cost fabrication of microlasers based on polymeric micropedestals

Our current work exploits direct laser writing (DLW) and low one-photon absorption (LOPA) in a low-cost three-dimensional optical fabrication system designed to print micrometric polymeric structures. Micropedestals were obtained by focusing a laser beam on a photoresist layer deposited on a silica glass substrate. Subsequent coating with rhodamine 6G dye allows these pedestals to function as microlasers upon optical excitation at 532 nm. Our microlasers, with a diameter of ∼53µm and a height of ∼40µm, exhibit a broad fluorescence peak in the spectral range 540-600 nm, in addition to narrow lasing peaks, exhibiting quality factors Q exceeding 2000 and a lasing threshold of ∼5µJcm^-2. The observed free spectral range associated with the lasing peaks of ∼1.3nm is consistent with simulations, which we include in this paper. In addition, we present simulations for the longitudinal shift of the patterning laser spot, which occurs particularly for relatively thick photoresist layers, coupled with a large index contrast at the photoresist top surface. Such a shift could introduce errors in the resulting microfabricated structures if left unaccounted for. We hope that our work will contribute to the development of microlasers for various photonic applications, particularly if dimensions can be reduced, for on-chip optical communications and data processing.

Linearly polarized lasing based on coupled perovskite microspheres

The polarization of lasing, as a fundamental property related to the emission coherence of microlasers, is one of the criteria for a high quality laser beam but has been rarely investigated. Unlike conventional lasers which can be induced by highly polarized seed light or by using a polarizing film, the microlaser for on-chip integrated photonic circuits generally possesses a low degree of polarization due to unpolarized spontaneous emission. Here, we firstly demonstrate that the Vernier effect can be used to improve the degree of polarization from ∼0.2 to 0.78 based on metal halide perovskite microspheres. After coupling, linearly polarized single-mode lasing with a low threshold and high quality can be achieved. In addition, by using the finite element method, the mode distributions of CsPbBr₃ microspheres before and after coupling are analyzed systematically and a clear physical diagram of coupled resonances is obtained. Our work clearly suggests that a coupled linearly polarized single-mode microlaser by the Vernier effect would offer a real step closer to the platform for on-chip integrated photonics.

Controllable Growth of Aligned Monocrystalline CsPbBr3 Microwire Arrays for Piezoelectric-Induced Dynamic Modulation of Single-Mode Lasing

CsPbBr₃ shows great potential in laser applications due to its superior optoelectronic characteristics. The growth of CsPbBr₃ wire arrays with well-controlled sizes and locations is beneficial for cost-effective and largely scalable integration into on-chip devices. Besides, dynamic modulation of perovskite lasers is vital for practical applications. Here, monocrystalline CsPbBr₃ microwire (MW) arrays with tunable widths, lengths, and locations are successfully synthesized. These MWs could serve as high-quality whispering-gallery-mode lasers with high quality factors (>1500), low thresholds (<3 µJ cm^-2 ), and long stability (>2 h). An increase of the width results in an increase of the laser quality and the resonant mode number. The dynamic modulation of lasing modes is achieved by a piezoelectric polarization-induced refractive index change. Single-mode lasing can be obtained by applying strain to CsPbBr₃ MWs with widths between 2.3 and 3.5 µm, and the mode positions can be modulated dynamically up to ≈9 nm by changing the applied strain. Piezoelectric-induced dynamic modulation of single-mode lasing is convenient and repeatable. This method opens new horizons in understanding and utilizing the piezoelectric properties of lead halide perovskites in lasing applications and shows potential in other applications, such as on-chip strain sensing.

All-optical control of lead halide perovskite microlasers

Lead halide perovskites based microlasers have recently shown their potential in nanophotonics. However, up to now, all of the perovskite microlasers are static and cannot be dynamically tuned in use. Herein, we demonstrate a robust mechanism to realize the all-optical control of perovskite microlasers. In lead halide perovskite microrods, deterministic mode switching takes place as the external excitation is increased: the onset of a new lasing mode switches off the initial one via a negative power slope, while the main laser characteristics are well kept. This mode switching is reversible with the excitation and has been explained via cross-gain saturation. The modal interaction induced mode switching does not rely on sophisticated cavity designs and is generic in a series of microlasers. The switching time is faster than 70 ps, extending perovskite microlasers to previously inaccessible areas, e.g., optical memory, flip-flop, and ultrafast switches etc.

A Tunable Optofluidic Microlaser in a Photostable Conjugated Polymer

The optofluidic laser has become an important platform for biological sensing and medical diagnosis. To date, fluorescent dyes and proteins have been widely utilized as gain materials for biological analysis due to their good biocompatibility, but the limited photostability restricts their reliability and sensitivity. Here, an optofluidic microlaser with an ultralow threshold down to 7.8 µJ cm^-2 in the ultrahigh-Q whispering-gallery microcavity, which is filled with a biocompatible conjugated polymer, is demonstrated. This conjugated polymer exhibits a significant enhancement in the lasing stability compared with a typical laser dye (Nile red). In the experiment, after 20 min of illumination with the excitation intensity of 23.2 MW cm^-2 , the lasing intensity of the conjugated polymer experiences a decrease of less than 10%, while the lasing feature of Nile red completely disappears. Additionally, by mechanically stretching the resonator, the lasing frequency can be fine-tuned with the range of about 2 nm, exceeding the free spectral range of the resonator.

Room-Temperature Continuous-Wave Operation of Organometal Halide Perovskite Lasers

Solution-processed organic-inorganic lead halide perovskites have recently emerged as promising gain media for tunable semiconductor lasers. However, optically pumped continuous-wave lasing at room temperature, a prerequisite for a laser diode, has not been realized so far. Here, we report lasing action in a surface-emitting distributed feedback methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI₃) perovskite laser on a silicon substrate at room temperature under continuous-wave optical pumping. This outstanding performance is achieved because of the ultralow lasing threshold of 13 W/cm², which is enabled by thermal nanoimprint lithography that directly patterns perovskite into a high- Q cavity with large mode confinement, while at the same time, it improves perovskite's emission characteristics. Our results represent a major step toward electrically pumped lasing in organic and thin-film materials as well as the insertion of perovskite lasers into photonic integrated circuits for applications in optical computing, sensing, and on-chip quantum information.

Dark-Field Sensors based on Organometallic Halide Perovskite Microlasers

The detection of nanoscale objects is essential for homeland security, environmental monitoring, and early-stage diagnostics. In the past few years, optical sensors have mostly been developed with passive devices such as microcavity and plasmonic nanostructures, which require external laser sources to operate and significantly increase the costs and bulks of sensing systems. To date, the potential of their active counterparts in optical sensors has not been well explored. Herein, a novel and robust mechanism to detect nanoscale objects with lead halide perovskite microlasers is demonstrated. Nanoparticles can be simply detected and sized by measuring the intensity of scattered laser light. In principle, the proposed concept is also applicable to electrically driven microlasers and it could find applications in portable point-of-care devices.

Continuous-wave operation in directly patterned perovskite distributed feedback light source at room temperature

We report a directly patterned perovskite distributed feedback (DFB) resonator and show narrow amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) at pump powers as low as 0.1  W/cm² under continuous-wave (CW) optical pumping conditions at room temperature. Compared to the pristine thin film photoluminescence spectrum, a 16-fold reduction in emission linewidth in the MAPbI₃ DFB cavity was observed. The direct nanostructuring of perovskites was achieved by thermal nanoimprint lithography. Our findings pave the way toward realizing CW pumped perovskite lasers at room temperature and energy-efficient perovskite light sources.

Highly Reproducible Organometallic Halide Perovskite Microdevices based on Top-Down Lithography

Highly reproducible organometallic-halide-perovskite-based devices are fabricated by a manufacturing process, which is demonstrated. Various shapes that are hard to synthesize directly are fabricated, and many unique properties are achieved.The fabrication procedure is utilized to create a photodetector and the detection sensitivity is significantly improved. The results will bring revolutionary advancement to the future of lead-halide-perovskite-based optoelectronic devices.

Organic-inorganic perovskite plasmonic nanowire lasers with a low threshold and a good thermal stability

Plasmonic nanolasers have ushered in a paradigm of deep sub-wavelength coherent optical sources with ultrafast dynamics that exploit the strong confinement capabilities of metals. Although these devices are usually associated with higher thresholds due to absorption in metals, the high gain inorganic II-VI and III-V semiconductor materials have allowed the realization of plasmonic nanolasers operating under ambient conditions. In this work, we introduce single-crystalline lead halide perovskite (CH₃NH₃PbI₃) nanowires as an organic-inorganic semiconducting gain material to the plasmonic laser community. We demonstrate plasmonic laser action using a hybrid geometry whereby the perovskite nanowires are placed on a silver substrate with an insulating spacer layer. We report relatively low threshold operation under ambient conditions (13.5 μJ cm^-2), and the devices work well even at temperatures up to 43.6 °C. The demonstration highlights the high optical gain achievable in perovskite materials and thus provides a solution to high gain materials for plasmonic devices.

The Role of Excitons on Light Amplification in Lead Halide Perovskites

The role of excitons on the amplifications of lead halide perovskites has been explored. Unlike the photoluminescence, the intensity of amplified spontaneous emission is partially suppressed at low temperature. The detailed analysis and experiments show that the inhibition is attributed to the existence of exciton and a quantitative model has been built to explain the experimental observations.

Postsynthetic and Selective Control of Lead Halide Perovskite Microlasers

The control of photoluminescence and absorption of lead halide perovskites plays a key role in their applications in micro- and nano-sized light emission devices and photodetectors. To date, the wavelength controls of lead halide perovskite microlasers are mostly realized by changing the halide mixture in solution. Herein, we report the postsynthetic and selective control of the optical properties of lead halide perovskites with conventional semiconductor technology. By selectively exposing a CH₃NH₃PbBr₃ microstructure with chlorine in inductively coupled plasma, we find that the wavelengths of absorption, photoluminescence, and laser emissions of exposed structures are blue-shifted around 50 nm. Most importantly, the device characteristics such as the photoluminescence intensities and laser thresholds are well maintained during the reaction process. We believe our finding will significantly boost the practical applications of lead halide perovskite based optoelectronics.

High-Density and Uniform Lead Halide Perovskite Nanolaser Array on Silicon

The realization of high density and highly uniform nanolaser arrays in lead halide perovskite is quite challenging, especially on silicon. Herein, we demonstrate a simple way to form lead halide nanolaser array on silicon chip with high density and uniform lasing wavelengths. By positioning a perovskite microwire onto a silicon grating, only the suspended parts can hold high quality (Q) resonances and generate laser emissions. As the perovskite microwire is periodically segmented by the silicon grating, the transverse lasers are divided into a periodic nanolaser array and the lasing wavelengths from different subunits are almost the same. The transverse laser has been observed in an air gap as narrow as 420 nm, increasing the density of nanolasers to about 1250 per millimeter (800 nm period in experiment). We believe this research shall shed light on the development of perovskite microlaser and nanolaser arrays on silicon and their applications.

Triangular lasing modes in hexagonal perovskite microplates with balanced gain and loss

The manipulation of lasing mode is realized by introducing the PT-symmetry in hexagonal cavity.