Optimization of lasing in an inverted-opal titania photonic crystal cavity as an organic solid-state dye-doped laser

Lasing performance of a dye-doped laser by encapsulating orange fluorescent dye 4-(Dicyanomethylene)-2-methyl-6-(4-dimethylaminostyryl)-4H-pyran (DCM) with different concentrations in a highly ordered three-dimensional (3D) inverted-opal titania (TiO2) photonic crystal (PC) microcavity was studied. The lasing threshold and laser quality were improved by optimizing the concentration of the laser dye DCM. When the concentration of DCM is optimized to 10−4  mol/l, the photoluminescence (PL) efficiency of DCM is sufficient to achieve lasing emission and meanwhile no fluorescence quantum quenching occurs. Therefore, the emission spectrum was greatly narrowed and the threshold was significantly improved, which reached 0.8  mJ pulse−1 cm−2. Our findings are promising results toward the realization of fabricating a highly efficient low-threshold organic laser.