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Updated: Jun 21, 2026

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Direct Imaging of Laser-driven Ultrafast Molecular Rotation
Published on: February 4, 2017
Exponentially Amplified Circularly Polarized Lasing from Chiral Carbon Dots
Shurong Ding1, Jin Bai1, Meiyu He1
1College of Chemistry, Pingyuan Laboratory, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|June 20, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed acid-driven self-assembly of carbon dots (CDs) into microhelical structures, achieving the first circularly polarized laser emission in CDs. This breakthrough enhances chiroptical response for advanced spin-dependent optical devices.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Optoelectronics
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) offers spin-selective information crucial for optical devices.
- Weak chiroptical response in CPL materials limits their practical applications.
- Carbon dots (CDs) are promising nanomaterials for photonic applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To enhance the chiroptical response of carbon dots (CDs).
- To achieve circularly polarized laser emission from CDs.
- To develop a carbon-based chiral laser device for optical information processing.
Main Methods:
- Acid-driven self-assembly of carbon dots (CDs) into microhelical structures.
- Optical pumping system to achieve laser emission.
- Fabrication of a circularly polarized laser logic gate system.
Main Results:
- Achieved a significant increase in dissymmetry factor (g-factor) from <10⁻⁵ to 6.5 × 10⁻³.
- Demonstrated the first circularly polarized laser emission in CDs with a g-factor of 1.05.
- Low lasing threshold (28.91 mJ cm⁻²) and excellent operational stability (>15 h).
Conclusions:
- The study presents a novel strategy for enhancing CPL in CDs via self-assembly.
- Successfully developed high-performance, low-cost, carbon-based chiral laser devices.
- Established a rapid-response circularly polarized laser logic gate system for optical information processing.
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