Quantum Dots on Flexible Nanohole Arrays Support Stable Nanolasing.

Abstract

Nanostructure lattices offer a compact platform for small, coherent light sources but suffer from compromised emission stability under mechanical deformation. In this study, we demonstrate a flexible nanolaser comprising a perovskite quantum dot (QD) film and a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) nanohole array filled with QDs, which maintains robust lasing performance with stable wavelength and intensity under bending and stretching. This nanolaser, fabricated via nanoimprint and QD drop-casting processes, leverages guided-mode resonance (GMR) for lasing emission at 532 nm with a threshold down to ∼15 μJ/cm². Moreover, we engineer the PDMS nanohole array (Poisson's ratio ≈0.5) to ensure that the nanolaser has a stable effective period and resonance wavelength under deformation. Thus, the nanolaser can maintain a stable wavelength under up to 15% tensile strain and over 1000 stretching cycles under 5% strain. By utilizing the flexibility and normal emission to local array structures of the nanolaser, emission-direction steering over a ±50° range, rotation-rate measurement, and beam-angle control are demonstrated. Facial recognition is proposed as one of the potential applications of flexible, stable nanolasers, and wider employment in human-computer interactions and embodied intelligence scenarios is expected.