Hydrogen-Bonded Organic Framework Microlasers with Conformation-Induced Color-Tunable Output

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Optics
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Porous organic frameworks are promising for tunable microlasers.
• Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are commonly used but have limitations like limited gain concentration and complex fabrication.
• Sacrificing pore space for laser dyes in MOFs is a significant challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report the first hydrogen-bonded organic framework (HOF) microlasers.
• To demonstrate color-tunable performance in HOF microlasers.
• To explore conformation-dependent stimulated emissions in HOFs.

Main Methods:

• Synthesized two types of HOF microcrystals using a temperature-controlled self-assembly method.
• Utilized the same gain lumnogen as the building block for both HOF types.
• Investigated distinct framework conformations and their impact on conjugation and excited-state processes.

Main Results:

• Achieved blue and green color lasing actions from two distinct HOF microcrystal types.
• Demonstrated that different HOF framework conformations lead to distinct emission colors.
• Observed color-tunable stimulated emissions based on conformation-dependent properties.

Conclusions:

• HOFs offer a viable and tunable platform for microlaser construction.
• Conformation-dependent stimulated emission in HOFs enables color tunability.
• These findings provide insights for developing HOF-based miniaturized lasers with advanced nanophotonic performance.