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A Photoisomerization‐Activated Intramolecular Charge‐Transfer Process for Broadband‐Tunable Single‐Mode Microlasers
Author(s) -
Qiao Chan,
Zhang Chunhuan,
Zhou Zhonghao,
Dong Haiyun,
Du Yuxiang,
Yao Jiannian,
Zhao Yong Sheng
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.202007361
Subject(s) - materials science , lasing threshold , photoisomerization , optoelectronics , photonics , laser , dye laser , broadband , photoexcitation , wavelength , optics , excitation , chemistry , physics , isomerization , quantum mechanics , catalysis , biochemistry
Miniaturized lasers with high spectral purity and wide wavelength tunability are crucial for various photonic applications. Here we propose a strategy to realize broadband‐tunable single‐mode lasing based on a photoisomerization‐activated intramolecular charge‐transfer (ICT) process in coupled polymer microdisk cavities. The photoisomerizable molecules doped in the polymer microdisks can be quantitatively transformed into a kind of laser dye with strong ICT character by photoexcitation. The gain region was tailored over a wide range through the self‐modulation of the optically activated ICT isomers. Meanwhile, the resonant modes shifted with the photoisomerization because of a change in the effective refractive index of the polymer microdisk cavity. Based on the synergetic modulation of the optical gain and microcavity, we realized the broadband tuning of the single‐mode laser. These results offer a promising route to fabricate broadband‐tunable microlasers towards practical photonic integrations.