Integration of Nanoscale Light Emitters and Hyperbolic Metamaterials: An Efficient Platform for the Enhancement of Random Laser Action
Journal
ACS Photonics
Journal Volume
95
Journal Issue
11
Pages
718-727
Date Issued
2017
Author(s)
Lin, H.-I.
Abstract
Hyperbolic metamaterials have emerged as novel materials with exciting functionalities, especially for optoelectronic devices. Here, we provide the first attempt to integrate hyperbolic metamaterials with light emitting nanostructures, which enables to strongly enhance random laser action with reduced lasing threshold. Interestingly, the differential quantum efficiency can be enhanced by more than four times. The underlying mechanism can be interpreted well based on the fact that the high-k modes excited by hyperbolic metamaterials can greatly increase the possibility of forming close loops decreasing the energy consumption for the propagation of scattered photons in the matrix. In addition, out-coupled propagation of the high-k modes reaches to the far-field without being trapped inside the metamaterials due to the coupling with the random distribution of light emitting nanoparticles also plays an important role. Electromagnetic simulations derived from the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method are executed to support our interpretation. Realizing strong enhancement of laser action assisted by hyperbolic metamaterials provides an attractive, very simple and efficient scheme for the development of high performance optoelectronic devices, including phototransistors, and many other solid state lighting systems. Besides, because of increasing light absorption assisted by hyperbolic metamaterials structure, our approach shown is also useful for the application of highly efficient solar cells. © 2017 American Chemical Society.
Subjects
high-k modes; Hyperbolic metamaterials; random lasers; scattering; zinc oxide
SDGs
Other Subjects
Electromagnetic simulation; Electromagnetic wave absorption; Energy utilization; Finite difference time domain method; High energy forming; II-VI semiconductors; Laser beams; Light; Light absorption; Light emission; Lighting; Optoelectronic devices; Scattering; Time domain analysis; Zinc oxide; Differential quantum efficiency; Efficient schemes; High- k; Random distribution; Random lasers; Scattered photons; Solid state lighting systems; Strong enhancement; Metamaterials
Type
journal article