Researchers from China's Zhejiang University, Wenzhou University, Central South University and Denmark's Aalborg University have developed an energy‑efficient way to engineer perovskite nanocrystals in glass, unlocking stable, flexible random lasers for advanced photonic applications.
Schematic illustration of experimental setup for speckle-free laser imaging. Image from: Science Advances
By using low‑temperature thermal strategies far below the glass transition temperature, they precisely tune nanophase separation and ion distribution inside perovskite nanocrystal domains, achieving controllable photoluminescence and lasing behavior in glass composites. Through carefully controlled nanophase separation and crystallization, the team creates hierarchical “PNCs‑in‑glass” structures that dramatically boost light scattering, enabling continuous‑wave single‑mode random lasing with an ultralow threshold of just 52.6 milliwatts per square centimeter.
These hierarchical perovskite structures are then embedded into flexible polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) films, resulting in stable and repeatable bendable lasers that combine low threshold, wavelength tunability, and mechanical flexibility - an attractive combination for future wearable and deformable optoelectronic devices.
Beyond demonstrating both femtosecond‑pumped and continuous‑wave random lasing with tunable emission wavelengths, the work also introduces a general, low‑energy platform for tailoring the optical properties of perovskite nanocrystals in glass. The enhanced scattering mechanism in the hierarchical structures supports speckle‑free laser imaging and dynamic holographic displays, highlighting how glass‑encapsulated perovskites can move from fragile lab materials to robust, application‑ready light sources in next‑generation photonic and display technologies.
