As it often happens in science, the researchers at the Laboratory of Hybrid Nanophotonics and Optoelectronics (PeroLab) didn’t develop this “lighsaber” on purpose. What happened is a little bit of material remained in the centrifuge tube after the synthesis of perovskite quantum dots. Due to the small size (about 5-10 nm) of quantum dots, they are invisible to the naked eye. However, once you put an UV flashlight near it, the tube lights up. Its color is determined by the composition of dots, which can be manipulated by scientists – they can create red Sith lightsabers, too.
PeroLab scientists are engaged in the stabilization and protection of perovskite quantum dots of various sizes and properties from water and oxygen. As a result, it’s possible not only to protect quantum dots from external influence, but also to create waveguide structures with an active medium that would re-emit the light throughout the entire waveguide.
This effect lies at the basis of an experimental sample for the smart window module. It’s a semi-transparent window that, together with a semi-transparent solar cell, can function as a power plant in daytime and as a light-emitting device at night. This project, supported by ITMO Highpark’s interdisciplinary research program, is being developed together with the Research and Development Center “Precision Electromechanics”.
