An electrodynamically confined single ZnO tetrapod laser

We experimentally show the viability of isolating and micropositioning ZnO-based nanostructures in an electrodynamic trap to investigate their intrinsic optical nature under atmospheric conditions. An electrospray technique is used to spray a dilute solution of ZnO tetrapods (in methanol) into an electrodynamic endcap trap. Subsequent tuning of trapping parameters, as the methanol evaporates, leads to the stable confinement of a single ZnO tetrapod in free space. Using this method, we trap a single ZnO tetrapod structure, manipulate its position, and study its lasing characteristics. (C) 2008 American Institute of Physics.