Self-Healing Nanophotonics: Robust and Soft Random Lasers.

Self-healing technology promises a generation of innovation in cross-cutting subjects ranging from electronic skins, wearable electronics to point-of-care biomedical sensing modules. Of late, scientists have successfully pulled off significant advances in self-healing components including sensors, energy devices, transistors, and even integrated circuits. Laser, one of the most important light sources, integrated with autonomous self-healability should be endowed with more functionalities and opportunities, however, the study of self-healing laser is absent in all published reports. Here, the soft and self-healable random laser (SSRL) is presented. The SSRL can not only endure extreme external strain but also withstand several cutting/healing test cycles. Particularly, the damaged SSRL enables to restore its functionality within just few minutes without the need of additional energy, chemical/electrical agents, or other healing stimuli, truly exhibiting a supple yet robust laser prototype. It is believed that SSRL can serve as a vital building block for the next-generation laser technology as well as the follow-on self-healing optoelectronics.