Argonne National Laboratory

Research Highlight | Center for Nanoscale Materials

Near-IR stimulated emission from carbon nanotubes
In a report published in ACS Nano, researchers demonstrate a near-infrared nanolaser using a polymer microsphere as the microcavity and semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes as the gain material.
(a) Illustration of the nanolaser: SWCNTs coupled to a polymer microsphere. (b) Whispering gallery modes supported by the polymer microcavity. (c) Emission from the gain material, SWCNTs. (d) Sketch of integrating gain to a polymer microcavity using a swelling-deswelling process. (e) Lasing from the nanolasers spanning a wide near-IR wavelength range.

Scientific Achievement

The first observation of lasing action from semiconducting carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) was demonstrated by using a unique microcavity-emitter configuration.

Significance and Impact

This work has profound impact towards the development of compact, coherent light sources operating in the near-IR wavelength range that are critically needed in telecommunication, interconnects, and bio-imaging areas.

Research Details

  • A semiconductor nanolaser was developed using a polymer microsphere as the microcavity and semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes as the gain material.
  • Room temperature near-IR lasing from the nanolasers was demonstrated and the lasing threshold was lowered by modifying the electronic structures of the gain through chemical modification.

 

Work was performed, in part, at the Center for Nanoscale Materials (CNM).

DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c06419

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