Ultra-Broadband Random Laser and White-Light Emissive Carbon Dots/Crystal In-Situ Hybrids

The continuous white-light emission of carbon dots (CDs) can be applied to producing multicolor laser emissions by one single medium. Meanwhile, the solid-state emission greatly contributes to its practical application. In this work, a strategy to realize the in-situ hybridization of silane-functionalized CDs (SiCDs) and 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid trimethyl ester (Et3BTC) by a one-pot solvothermal method is reported. Significantly, the SiCDs/Et3BTC hybrid crystals exhibit ultra-broadband random laser emission over the near ultraviolet-visible region under 265 nm nanosecond pulsed laser excitation. The wavelength region of laser emission is achieved from 315 to 600 nm within an emission band of CDs-based materials. It is worth noting that the wavelength range of the laser is wider than the previously reported works. It is proposed that the continuous white-light emission of SiCDs caused by multiple fluorescence centers mainly gives rise to the broadband random laser emission. Moreover, the crystals are conducive to forming resonance and realizing solid-state laser emission. This in-situ method is expected to enable a more convenient, cheaper, and greener approach to prepare luminescent hybrids for application in multicolor laser displays, multi-level laser anti-counterfeiting, supercontinuum light sources, and so on.

Automated summary

This study reports an in-situ hybridization strategy of carbon dots and organic materials, which achieves ultra-broadband random laser emission with a wider wavelength range than previously reported works, and shows potential for various applications.