Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 9, 2025
14:58
Silicon Metal-oxide-semiconductor Quantum Dots for Single-electron Pumping
Published on: June 3, 2015
14.7K
Facile layer-by-layer fabrication of semiconductor microdisk laser particles
Paul H Dannenberg1,2,3, Andreas C Liapis1,2, Nicola Martino1,2
1Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
APL Photonics
|November 30, 2023
Summary
Researchers developed a simple, accessible method for fabricating semiconductor laser particles (LPs) for biological cell tagging. This technique avoids cleanroom requirements, making advanced optical tools more widely available for research.
Area of Science:
- Semiconductor physics
- Biophotonics
- Materials science
Background:
- Semiconductor laser particles (LPs) offer narrowband spectral emission for biological cell tagging.
- Current fabrication methods require specialized cleanroom equipment, limiting widespread adoption.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a simplified, accessible fabrication strategy for semiconductor LPs.
- To enable broader use of LPs in biological applications.
Main Methods:
- A layer-by-layer fabrication approach using readily available laboratory equipment.
- Utilizing an indium phosphide (InP) substrate with epitaxial indium gallium arsenide phosphide (InGaAsP) layers.
- Sequential processing to create LPs with tunable spectral properties.
Main Results:
- Successfully fabricated LPs with excellent optical properties using accessible methods.
- Achieved lasing emission with a full width at half maximum as narrow as < 0.3 nm.
- Demonstrated low lasing thresholds of approximately 6 pJ with 1064 nm pulsed laser excitation.
Conclusions:
- The developed layer-by-layer method overcomes cleanroom limitations for LP fabrication.
- High-quality LPs are suitable for large-scale biological experiments, including spectral multiplexing.
- This accessible fabrication technique promotes broader application of LPs in life sciences.
