Student research opportunities
Lasers from a bottle: low-cost solution processed perovskite lasers
Project Code: CECS_1153
This project is available at the following levels:
Engn4200, Engn R&D, Honours, Masters
Keywords:
Laser Perovskite Photonics Optoelectronics
Supervisor:
Dr Tom WhiteOutline:
The recent emergence of high quality solution-processed perovskite semiconductors has sparked massive worldwide research effort to exploit the amazing properties of these materials for solar cells and other optoelectronic devices.
After only a few years of development, thin-film solar cells based on hybrid organometal-halide perovskites (eg: CH3NH3PbI3) have already reached efficiencies above 20%. These same materials also have excellent light-emitting properties, and have been used to make light-emitting diodes, and even optically-pumped lasers. These results raise the exciting possibility of solution-processed lasers that can be tuned across the entire visible-NIR spectrum by changing the chemical composition of the perovskite film. This extremely low-cost technology has many potential applications in areas such as medicine, biosecurity, communications and consumer electronics.
The aim of this project is to design, model and evaluate a range of possible perovskite laser geometries, and to propose optimized designs for fabrication using solution-processing methods. This will involve detailed optical design of resonant cavities to effectively confine light inside the very thin perovskite layers, as well as electrical design to ensure that charge carriers can be injected into the active layer with maximum efficiency.
Goals of this project
1. Identify the key design requirements for an electrically-pumped perovskite laser
2. Design and model one or more resonant optical cavity geometries for a perovskite laser
3. Propose one or more schemes to integrate the optical cavity with electrodes and other components required for an electrically-pumped perovskite laser
Requirements/Prerequisites
This project is ideally suited to students with an interest in photonics or semiconductor devices, who have studied at least one of PHYS2017, ENGN3512 or ENGN4613. ENGN3334 or ENGN4524 would also be useful, but are not essesntial.
Student Gain
Introduction to a rapidly-growing research area
Experience in the use of advanced optical modelling tools
Advanced knowledge in photonics/semiconductors
Independent research and analysis skills
Background Literature
1. F. Laquai, “All-round perovskites,” Nature Mat (News and Views), 13, 429-430 (2014).
2. H.J. Snaith, “Perovskites: The Emergence of a New Era for Low-Cost, High-Efficiency Solar Cells,” J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 4, 3623-3630 (2013).
3. Z-K. Tan et al., “Bright light-emitting diodes based on organometal halide perovskite,” Nature Nanotechnology 9, 687–692 (2014)
4. G. Xing et al., “Low-temperature solution-processed wavelength-tunable perovskites for lasing,” Nature Materials 13, 476-480 (2014).
