Continuous-wave lasing in an organic–inorganic lead halide perovskite semiconductor

• Published in: Nature photonics Vol. 11; no. 12; pp. 784 - 788
• Main Authors: Jia, Yufei, Kerner, Ross A., Grede, Alex J., Rand, Barry P., Giebink, Noel C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 01.12.2017; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 639/301/1019/1020/1085; 639/624/1020/1093; Applied and Technical Physics; Carrier recombination; Distributed feedback lasers; Inclusions; Iodides; Lasers; Lasing; Lead; Letter; Orthorhombic phase; Perovskites; Phase transitions; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Quantum Physics; Quantum wells; Recombination; Semiconductor lasers; Transition temperature; Transition temperatures
• ISSN: 1749-4885; 1749-4893
• DOI: 10.1038/s41566-017-0047-6

Hybrid organic–inorganic perovskites have emerged as promising gain media for tunable, solution-processed semiconductor lasers. However, continuous-wave operation has not been achieved so far 1 – 3 . Here, we demonstrate that optically pumped continuous-wave lasing can be sustained above threshold excitation intensities of ~17 kW cm –2 for over an hour in methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI 3 ) distributed feedback lasers that are maintained below the MAPbI 3 tetragonal-to-orthorhombic phase transition temperature of T  ≈ 160 K. In contrast with the lasing death phenomenon that occurs for pure tetragonal-phase MAPbI 3 at T  > 160 K (ref. 4 ), we find that continuous-wave gain becomes possible at T  ≈ 100 K from tetragonal-phase inclusions that are photogenerated by the pump within the normally existing, larger-bandgap orthorhombic host matrix. In this mixed-phase system, the tetragonal inclusions function as carrier recombination sinks that reduce the transparency threshold, in loose analogy to inorganic semiconductor quantum wells, and may serve as a model for engineering improved perovskite gain media. Optically pumped continuous-wave lasing is achieved in methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI 3 ) distributed feedback lasers that are maintained below the MAPbI 3  tetragonal-to-orthorhombic phase transition temperature of 160 K.