Highly efficient solid state laser based on organic-inorganic nanocomposite, BMDO/ 02-014A

In this Project, Emitech, Inc will study and develop a novel organic-inorganic nanocomposite with advanced lasing characteristics. The new nanomaterial consists of nanoporous inorganic material (NIM) filled with emissive polymers, organic dyes or theirblends. Such composite laser has serious advantages when compared with laser sources based on organic materials alone.* Large surface/volume ratio results in suppression of organic aggregation inside nanopores leading to enhancement of the emissive quantum yield and consequently lowering lasing threshold.* An effective cooling of the organic material inside the pores can be provided by air pumping through the AAO membrane. A large air/organic interface surface will prevent the strong thermal effect and extend the laser-operating lifetime.* Anodization technique allows us to modulate the NIM refractive index by variation of NIM porosity. Such resonant structure (microcavity integrated with distributed Bragg reflectors) should considerably improve the optical feedback, and increase theoutput power.* The energy transfer effect inside nanopores can significantly enhance the lasing action and tune the emitter color from red to ultraviolet. The set of NIM filled with the different organic material could generate the white stimulated emission and lead tothe development of the white solid state laser. The proposed approach can be successfully applied to development and fabrication of a new generation of solid state lasers based on organic-inorganic nanocomposites. Such laser devices could combine the best properties inherited from organic lasers (lowlasing threshold, cost effective processing/fabrication, and easy color tune) with the durability and long operating time of inorganic material. Finally, advanced lasing characteristics can be employed to the subsequent development and commercialization ofelectrically driven laser sources based on solid organic material and make such devices an alternative to inorganic semiconductor lasers. The current multi-billion dollar market of semiconductor lasers provides a variety applications in the military,industry and high technologies. It is hard to overestimate the benefits from the emergence of such new highly competitive laser device based on organic-inorganic nanocomposites.