Researchers Achieve Breakthrough in Cost-Effective SWIR Laser Technology

Using lead sulfide quantum dots, scientists have developed scalable, silicon-compatible lasers for extended short-wave infrared applications.

Scientists at ICFO have created the first colloidal quantum dot-based lasers capable of emitting coherent light across a wide range of extended SWIR wavelengths.
The innovation uses lead sulfide (PbS) quantum dots, achieving lasing without altering their chemical composition, enabling practical and compact designs.
The new lasers operate with nanosecond excitation, eliminating the need for bulky and expensive femtosecond laser amplifiers, making the process more efficient and cost-effective.
This advancement addresses key challenges in technologies like hazardous gas detection, eye-safe LIDAR systems, advanced photonic circuits, and biological imaging.
The technology is compatible with silicon CMOS platforms, paving the way for smaller, more affordable devices and broader adoption in industries such as biomedicine and environmental sensing.