Smart Photonics

Colloidal nanocrystals are unique optical gain materials due to their high intrinsic absorption, excellent quantum yield, and tunable emission. However, integration of colloidal nanocrystal solutions into photonic systems for lasing applications is challenging since high concentration levels are required for optical amplification. Here, we address this challenge by integrating colloidally dispersed core/crown CdSe/CdS 2D nanoplatelets in liquid-core optical fibers as a scalable platform. The platform allowed achievement of sufficient gain for amplified spontaneous emission at a threshold as low as1.8kW/cm2under quasi-CW pumping, even at a concentration two orders of magnitude lower than the concentration levels considered to be required for gain with conventional colloidal 0D quantumdots. We show that the low-loss optical wave guiding of the fiber is crucial for efficient stimulated emission, rendering liquid-core fibers as a promising and unique platform to realize lasers based on colloidally dispersed nanocrystals.