Microsecond-sustained lasing from colloidal quantum dot solids

Microsecond-sustained lasing from colloidal quantum dot solids

Adachi, Michael M. (University of Toronto)
Fan, Fengjia (University of Toronto)
Sellan, Daniel P. (University of Toronto)
Hoogland, Sjoerd (University of Toronto)
Voznyy, Oleksandr (University of Toronto)
Houtepen, A.J. (TU Delft ChemE/Opto-electronic Materials)
Parrish, Kevin D. (Carnegie Mellon University)
Kanjanaboos, Pongsakorn (Mahidol University)
Malen, Jonathan A. (Carnegie Mellon University)
Sargent, Edward H. (University of Toronto)

2015-10-23

Colloidal quantum dots have grown in interest as materials for light amplification and lasing in view of their bright photoluminescence, convenient solution processing and size-controlled spectral tunability. To date, lasing in colloidal quantum dot solids has been limited to the nanosecond temporal regime, curtailing their application in systems that require more sustained emission. Here we find that the chief cause of nanosecond-only operation has been thermal runaway: the combination of rapid heat injection from the pump source, poor heat removal and a highly temperature-dependent threshold. We show microsecond-sustained lasing, achieved by placing ultra-compact colloidal quantum dot films on a thermally conductive substrate, the combination of which minimizes heat accumulation. Specifically, we employ inorganic-halide-capped quantum dots that exhibit high modal gain (1,200 cm^-1) and an ultralow amplified spontaneous emission threshold (average peak power of ∼50 kW cm^-2) and rely on an optical structure that dissipates heat while offering minimal modal loss.

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:ac4bf131-6a58-4bd8-b39c-d03e38af8c9d

https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms9694

2041-1723

Nature Communications, 6

Institutional Repository

journal article

© 2015 Michael M. Adachi, Fengjia Fan, Daniel P. Sellan, Sjoerd Hoogland, Oleksandr Voznyy, A.J. Houtepen, Kevin D. Parrish, Pongsakorn Kanjanaboos, Jonathan A. Malen, Edward H. Sargent