An electrodynamically confined single ZnO tetrapod laser

We experimentally show the viability of isolating and micropositioning ZnO-based nanostructures in an electrodynamic trap to investigate their intrinsic optical nature under atmospheric conditions. An electrospray technique is used to spray a dilute solution of ZnO tetrapods in methanol into an electrodynamic “endcap” trap. Subsequent tuning of trapping parameters, as the methanol evaporates, leads to the stable confinement of a single ZnO tetrapod in free space. Using this method, we trap a single ZnO tetrapod structure, manipulate its position, and study its lasing characteristics. © 2008 American Institute of Physics. DOI: 10.1063/1.2987520