Electrically pumped photonic crystal laser constructed with organic semiconductors

We experimentally demonstrate the lasing action of electrically pumped octagonal quasi-crystal microcavities formed in a layer of conjugated polymer poly[2-methoxy5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene] (MEH-PPV) sandwiched between two electrodes. Lasing from a point-defect microcavity is observed at a wavelength of 606 nm with a narrow linewidth of 0.5 nm, limited by the spectrometer resolution. Due to the properties of the photonic bandgap and localization in photonic crystals, the threshold current for lasing is low at 0.8 mA. The ion injection in the luminescent polymer layer by focused ion beam (FIB) etching technology also contributes to enhancement of the carrier density as well as the mobility, resulting in an increase of MEH-PPV conductivity and a decrease of turn-on voltage.