Flexible and Ultra-Lightweight Polymer Membrane Lasers

We report on a laser in the form of a flexible and lightweight membrane that can be affixed to objects such as banknotes, contact lenses, and finger nails. Bendable and stretchable solar cells and LEDs based on carbon-based polymers and small molecules are described in the literature. However, the first organic lasers were rigid and relatively bulky, in part because they use a thick and stiff support substrate.