Random laser generation in ZnO nanocrystals grown by hydrothermal method

The possibility of laser generation was found in nanocrystalline ZnO samples of various morphologies grown using the hydrothermal growth method. It is shown that at a high optical excitation density, the arrays of ZnO nanowires forming the surface of the samples are self-organizing systems demonstrating random laser radiation generation with a relatively low excitation threshold. The relationship between the generation occurrence and the morphology of nanocrystals has been established. Possible generation mechanisms are discussed.