Self-Assembled π-Conjugated Organic/Polymeric Microresonators and Microlasers

Optical microresonators are minute dielectric objects that are utilized as essential components in micrometer-scale light and laser sources, optical integrated circuits, micro-displays, chemo-and biosensors, and so forth. Particularly, microresonators made from organic and polymeric materials find unique appli-cations owing to structural flexibility, color tunability, and func-tionality with a simple fabrication process, low cost and low energy consumption. In this Account, we highlight our recent progress on organic/polymeric microresonators made through precisely controlled self-assembly. The microstructures display novel optical functions such as circularly polarized lumines-cence emission, lasing, light energy harvest, optical gate oper-ations, optical memories and authentications, and optical sens-ing for environmental changes and mechanical forces. Our methodology for the precise design and control of organic and polymeric microstructures will bridge between nanometer-scale supramolecular chemistry and bulk materials and will pave the way toward flexible optical and laser applications.