Donor–acceptor naphthalimides and peryleneimides for all-solution-processed thin film lasers

Donor–Acceptor (D–A) naphthalimides (NI) are highly fluorescent multitask compounds that have demonstrated success in a variety of optoelectronic applications, among which, thin film organic lasers (TFOLs) are not included. Here we assess the potential of various NI derivatives for lasing applications by investigating their amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) properties when dispersed in polystyrene thin films. To overcome the relatively low ASE photostability measured in the NIs, a series of peryleneimides (PI) derivatives, with similar chemical structure but with more extended π-conjugation, is synthesized and reported here, together with a complete characterization of their optical and ASE properties, both in solution and thin film. Most investigated compounds show ASE, with emissions at different wavelengths spanning from the blue to the red, depending on the derivative. Furthermore, surface emitting TFOLs with top-layer polymeric distributed feedback resonators are fabricated and characterized. This work represents an advance in the field of low-cost TFOLs, by including two families of successful laser dyes, NIs and PIs, the latter with significantly better photostability.The group at the University of Alicante acknowledges financial support from the “Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación/Agencia Estatal de investigación” (MCIN/AEI) of Spain, European Regional Development Fund and European Social Funds (project PID2020-106114GB-I00) and from the Conselleria de Innovación, Universidades y Sociedad Digital de la Comunidad Valenciana (Grant No. AICO/2021/093). The team of the University of Castilla la Mancha acknowledges financial support from the MCIN/AEI of Spain (project PID2020-119636GB-I00 and RED2018-102331-T) and by FEDER Una manera de hacer Europa and Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha (JCCM-FEDER) (SBPLY/17/180501/000189 and SBPLY/17/180501/000114). B. Donoso is grateful for a FPU predoctoral contract (FPU16/05099). I. Torres-Moya thanks to the Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha for a post-doctoral contract (SBPLY/19/180501/000346). Finally, we acknowledge the computer resources, technical assistance, and expertise provided by the High Performance Computing Service of UCLM