Coherent Förster resonance energy transfer: A new paradigm for electrically driven quantum dot random lasers.

The many distinct advantages of random lasers focused efforts on developing a breakthrough from optical pumping to electrical pumping. However, progress in these is limited due to high optical loss and low gain. In this work, we demonstrate an electrically pumped quantum dot (QD) random laser with visible emission based on a previously unexplored paradigm named coherent Förster resonance energy transfer (CFRET). In the CFRET process, when a coherent photonic mode is formed because of multiple scattering of the emitted light traveling in mixed donor and acceptor QDs, the donor QDs not only serve as scattering centers but are also enable coherent energy transfer to acceptor QDs. Therefore, the laser action can be easily achieved, and the lasing threshold is greatly reduced. Our approach of electrically pumped QD-based random lasers represents a substantial step toward a full-spectrum random laser for practical applications.

Ultralow Threshold Cavity-Free Laser Induced by Total Internal Reflection.

Total internal reflection is one of the most important phenomena when a propagated wave strikes a medium boundary, which possesses a wide range of applications spanning from optical communication to a fluorescence microscope. It has also been widely used to demonstrate conventional laser actions with resonant cavities. Recently, cavity-free stimulated emission of radiation has attracted great attention in disordered media because of several exciting physical phenomena, ranging from Anderson localization of light to speckle-free imaging. However, unlike conventional laser systems, the total internal reflection has never been implemented in the study of laser actions derived from randomly distributed media. Herein, we demonstrate an ultra-low threshold cavity-free laser system using air bubbles as scattering centers in which the total internal reflection from the surface of air bubbles can greatly reduce the leakage of the scattered beam energy and then enhance light amplification within a coherent closed loop. Our approach provides an excellent alternative for the manipulation of optical energy flow to achieve ultra-low threshold cavity-free laser systems, which should be very useful for the development of high performance optoelectronic devices.

Self-Sufficient and Highly Efficient Gold Sandwich Upconversion Nanocomposite Lasers for Stretchable and Bio-applications.

Multifunctional lanthanide-doped upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) have spread their wings in the fields of flexible optoelectronics and biomedical applications. One of the ongoing challenges lies in achieving UCNP-based nanocomposites, which enable a continuous-wave (CW) laser action at ultralow thresholds. Here, gold sandwich UCNP nanocomposites [gold (Au1)-UCNP-gold (Au2)] capable of exhibiting lasing at ultralow thresholds under CW excitation are demonstrated. The metastable energy-level characteristics of lanthanides are advantageous for creating population inversion. In particular, localized surface plasmon resonance-based electromagnetic hotspots in the nanocomposites and the huge enhancement of scattering coefficient for the formation of coherent closed loops due to multiple scattering facilitate the process of stimulated emissions as confirmed by theoretical simulations. The nanocomposites are subjected to stretchable systems for enhancing the lasing action (threshold ∼ 0.06 kW cm-2) via a light-trapping effect. The applications in bioimaging of HeLa cells and antibacterial activity (photothermal therapy) are demonstrated using the newly designed Au1-UCNP-Au2 nanocomposites.

A Highly-Efficient Single Segment White Random Laser.

Production of multicolor or multiple wavelength lasers over the full visible-color spectrum from a single chip device has widespread applications, such as superbright solid-state lighting, color laser displays, light-based version of Wi-Fi (Li-Fi), and bioimaging, etc. However, designing such lasing devices remains a challenging issue owing to the material requirements for producing multicolor emissions and sophisticated design for producing laser action. Here we demonstrate a simple design and highly efficient single segment white random laser based on solution-processed NaYF4:Yb/Er/Tm@NaYF4:Eu core-shell nanoparticles assisted by Au/MoO3 multilayer hyperbolic meta-materials. The multicolor lasing emitted from core-shell nanoparticles covering the red, green, and blue, simultaneously, can be greatly enhanced by the high photonic density of states with a suitable design of hyperbolic meta-materials, which enables decreasing the energy consumption of photon propagation. As a result, the energy upconversion emission is enhanced by ∼50 times with a drastic reduction of the lasing threshold. The multiple scatterings arising from the inherent nature of the disordered nanoparticle matrix provide a convenient way for the formation of closed feedback loops, which is beneficial for the coherent laser action. The experimental results were supported by the electromagnetic simulations derived from the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. The approach shown here can greatly simplify the design of laser structures with color-tunable emissions, which can be extended to many other material systems. Together with the characteristics of angle free laser action, our device provides a promising solution toward the realization of many laser-based practical applications.

Wrinkled 2D Materials: A Versatile Platform for Low-Threshold Stretchable Random Lasers.

A stretchable, flexible, and bendable random laser system capable of lasing in a wide range of spectrum will have many potential applications in next- generation technologies, such as visible-spectrum communication, superbright solid-state lighting, biomedical studies, fluorescence, etc. However, producing an appropriate cavity for such a wide spectral range remains a challenge owing to the rigidity of the resonator for the generation of coherent loops. 2D materials with wrinkled structures exhibit superior advantages of high stretchability and a suitable matrix for photon trapping in between the hill and valley geometries compared to their flat counterparts. Here, the intriguing functionalities of wrinkled reduced graphene oxide, single-layer graphene, and few-layer hexagonal boron nitride, respectively, are utilized to design highly stretchable and wearable random laser devices with ultralow threshold. Using methyl-ammonium lead bromide perovskite nanocrystals (PNC) to illustrate the working principle, the lasing threshold is found to be ≈10 µJ cm-2 , about two times less than the lowest value ever reported. In addition to PNC, it is demonstrated that the output lasing wavelength can be tuned using different active materials such as semiconductor quantum dots. Thus, this study is very useful for the future development of high-performance wearable optoelectronic devices.

An Arbitrary Color Light Emitter.

The integration of a light-emitting transistor based on graphene/insulator/semiconductor with downconversion emitters enables the manipulation of emitted light covering the whole chromaticity space, including white-light emission. This novel arbitrary-color light emitter offers a promising approach for new applications in optoelectronic devices ranging from displays to solid-state lighting.

[Spatiotemporal characteristics of urban land expansion in central area of Shanghai, China].

Using the high spatial resolution (2.5 m) color-infrared aerial photos acquired in 1989, 1994, 2000 and 2005, this paper analyzed the spatiotemporal characteristics of rapid urban expansion in central Shanghai with urban expansion intensity index and gradient analysis. Results showed that urban land use in Shanghai increased rapidly in a "pancake" style during the study period, and the anisotropic urban expansion moved the urban center 2.62 km toward southwest. The urban land use expansion intensity doubled and showed a rural-urban gradient. The most intensive urban expansion zone fell in the rural-urban transition zone, indicating the dominance of peripheral expansion as the primary urban expansion mode in Shanghai. However, the urban land use intensity decreased with time at the urban center. The primary driving forces of urban expansion included support from government policies and decision-making, enhanced economic activities, societal fixed assets investment, urban infrastructure investment, extension of transportation routes, as well as increase in urban population.