Nanocellulose-based random laser

In this work, we systematically investigated the spectral analysis of the random laser action of Rhodamine6G (Rh6G) in Ethylene Glycol (EG) solution with cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) as scatters to provide random feedback. A random laser (RL), different form a conventional Fabry Perot cavity laser, bases the optical feedback on scattering processes in a nano or submicron structured media, where the gain media is appropriately pumped to supply the necessary elements for laser emission [1]. Also, another RL architecture was investigated, where the CNCs+Rh6G composite was placed on a glass slide substrate, which introduced a 4% feedback half-cavity. Fig 1 shows SEM images of cellulose flakes and CNCs rods, which were produced according literature [2]. The RL spectral emission from the NCF+Rh6G (15mg/mL CNCs) suspension is shown in Fig 2a, where the spectrum for different excitation energies, strongly reduced from 50.6 nm to 5.6 nm at its full width at half maximum (FWHM).