Thermodynamically Stable Organic Dye Microcrystals for Highly Efficient Whispering-Gallery-Mode Lasing

TY - JOUR

T1 - Thermodynamically Stable Organic Dye Microcrystals for Highly Efficient Whispering-Gallery-Mode Lasing

AU - Meng, Fanxing

AU - Xu, Baoyuan

AU - Liu, Xiaolong

AU - Zhou, Yifan

AU - Hu, Kun

AU - Peng, Bo

AU - Li, Weiyi

AU - Dong, Haiyun

AU - Zhang, Chunhuan

AU - Zhao, Yong Sheng

AU - Zhang, Jiatao

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2026 American Chemical Society

PY - 2026/3/24

Y1 - 2026/3/24

N2 - Organic laser dyes have the potential for advancing miniaturized laser technology because their vast molecular diversity offers infinite possibilities for laser design. However, it remains challenging to realize pure dye aggregate lasers due to intermolecular quenching. A universal chemical strategy for activating the optical gain in dye aggregates is highly desirable for the development of miniaturized dye lasers. Here, we propose a molecule-guided crystal engineering strategy to synthesize thermodynamically stable organic dye microcrystals capable of lasing efficiently. Multiple alkyl substituents are introduced on the organic dye molecule skeleton to transform the strong intermolecular interaction into multiple weak intermolecular interactions, which successfully activate the optical gain in dye single crystals. Different alkyl substituents lead to the formation of two kinds of microcrystals with distinct molecular packing modes and distinct geometries. Both kinds of organic dye microcrystals allow for efficient lasing. The hexagonal microcrystal with herringbone molecular packing combines large optical gain, strong cavity confinement, and high stability, which enables highly efficient and stable whispering-gallery-mode lasing. The molecule-guided crystal engineering strategy is universally applicable to diverse organic laser dye molecule skeletons and substituents, showing the potential for exploring organic microlasers with enhanced performance and functions.

AB - Organic laser dyes have the potential for advancing miniaturized laser technology because their vast molecular diversity offers infinite possibilities for laser design. However, it remains challenging to realize pure dye aggregate lasers due to intermolecular quenching. A universal chemical strategy for activating the optical gain in dye aggregates is highly desirable for the development of miniaturized dye lasers. Here, we propose a molecule-guided crystal engineering strategy to synthesize thermodynamically stable organic dye microcrystals capable of lasing efficiently. Multiple alkyl substituents are introduced on the organic dye molecule skeleton to transform the strong intermolecular interaction into multiple weak intermolecular interactions, which successfully activate the optical gain in dye single crystals. Different alkyl substituents lead to the formation of two kinds of microcrystals with distinct molecular packing modes and distinct geometries. Both kinds of organic dye microcrystals allow for efficient lasing. The hexagonal microcrystal with herringbone molecular packing combines large optical gain, strong cavity confinement, and high stability, which enables highly efficient and stable whispering-gallery-mode lasing. The molecule-guided crystal engineering strategy is universally applicable to diverse organic laser dye molecule skeletons and substituents, showing the potential for exploring organic microlasers with enhanced performance and functions.

KW - crystal engineering

KW - molecular modification

KW - molecular packing

KW - organic laser

KW - single-crystal dye laser

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105033829529

U2 - 10.1021/acsnano.5c20585

DO - 10.1021/acsnano.5c20585

M3 - Article

C2 - 41805104

AN - SCOPUS:105033829529

SN - 1936-0851

VL - 20

SP - 9303

EP - 9311

JO - ACS Nano

JF - ACS Nano

IS - 11

ER -