Solid-state cavity lasing from poly(p-phenylene vinylene)–silica nanocomposite bulk

We have fabricated inorganic-organic nanocomposite bulk samples consisting of poly(p-phenylene vinylene) (PPV) and silica by in situ polymerization of a PPV salt monomer within a porous glass using a base-catalyzed polymerization reaction and subsequent heat treatment. The samples processed at temperatures above 200 degrees C showed a sharp reduction in fluorescence. Solid-state cavity lasing was achieved from the samples processed at 150 degrees C with optical efficiency as high as 11.4%. We report characteristic narrowing of the linewidth and the temporal profile.