Lasing in robust cesium lead halide perovskite nanowires

• Published in: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS Vol. 113; no. 8; pp. 1993 - 1998
• Main Authors: Eaton, Samuel W., Lai, Minliang, Gibson, Natalie A., Wong, Andrew B., Dou, Letian, Ma, Jie, Wang, Lin-Wang, Leone, Stephen R., Yang, Peidong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States National Academy of Sciences 23.02.2016; National Acad Sciences; National Academy of Sciences, Washington, DC (United States)
• Subjects: Cesium; Emissions; Fabrication; Halides; inorganic; laser; Lasers; Light sources; Low temperature; Low temperature physics; MATERIALS SCIENCE; nanowire; Nanowires; Optical properties; Perovskite; Phase transitions; Physical Sciences; Single crystals; stability; perovskite; laser; inorganic; stability; nanowire
• ISSN: 0027-8424; 1091-6490; 1091-6490
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1600789113

The rapidly growing field of nanoscale lasers can be advanced through the discovery of new, tunable light sources. The emission wavelength tunability demonstrated in perovskite materials is an attractive property for nanoscale lasers. Whereas organic–inorganic lead halide perovskite materials are known for their instability, cesium lead halides offer a robust alternative without sacrificing emission tunability or ease of synthesis. Here, we report the low-temperature, solution-phase growth of cesium lead halide nanowires exhibiting low-threshold lasing and high stability. The as-grown nanowires are single crystalline with well-formed facets, and act as high-quality laser cavities. The nanowires display excellent stability while stored and handled under ambient conditions over the course of weeks. Upon optical excitation, Fabry–Pérot lasing occurs in CsPbBr₃ nanowires with an onset of 5 μJ cm−2 with the nanowire cavity displaying a maximum quality factor of 1,009 ± 5. Lasing under constant, pulsed excitation can be maintained for over 1 h, the equivalent of 10⁹ excitation cycles, and lasing persists upon exposure to ambient atmosphere. Wavelength tunability in the green and blue regions of the spectrum in conjunction with excellent stability makes these nanowire lasers attractive for device fabrication.