Room-Temperature, Tunable Gain Media from Novel II–VI Nanocrystal–Titania Composite Matrices

Abstract

Semiconductor nanocrystals embedded in a titania matrix (see Figure for an AFM image) at volume fractions high enough to observe amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) have been prepared. ASE has been observed at room temperature for these structures and at multiple wavelengths, thus promising a wide range of tunable, room-temperature lasers and other nonlinear optics applications.