Growth dynamics of nanoparticles in laser produced plasma in liquid ambient

Abstract

Synthesis of titanium nanoparticles using pulsed laser ablation of titanium in de-ionized water and isopropanol is reported. In situ growth of nanoparticles was confirmed using Rayleigh scattering in liquid and air ambient. Nucleation and growth of nanoparticles in liquid ambient occurs much faster than in air. Synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using the x-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and photoluminescence measurements. Nanoparticles thus produced are spherical in shape, have crystalline phase with size distribution 5–35 nm and the average size increases with the increase in laser fluence. The colloidal solutions of nanoparticles show broad photoluminescence emission in the range 300–500 nm on optical pumping with 266 nm. A comparative study of titanium plasma in liquid and air is reported to understand the formation of titanium nanoparticles from laser plasma confined in different ambient.

Growth of titanium nanoparticles in confined plasma

“…33,34 The x-ray diffraction pattern of NPs synthesized by laser ablation of titanium in water also shows the formation of oxide nanoparticles. 12 The dissociation of water molecules during laser ablation may be associated with energetic plasma species and cavitation. The emission lines observed in water confined plasma have distorted profile and are relatively broader than that in air.…”

“…10,11 The synthesis of nanoparticles of metals such as aluminum, titanium, palladium, gold, and silver have been reported in different liquids and air ambient. 2,4,10, [12][13][14][15] The optical properties of zinc oxide NPs synthesized by PLA of zinc metal in different organic liquids and deionized water have been investigated. 16,17 The advantages of PLA (in liquid) technique over the chemical synthesis of colloidal solution of NPs are the simplicity of procedure and absence of chemical reagents in solution.…”

“…The size of NPs in colloidal solution depends on the thermo-physical parameters of the material as well as ablation parameters such as laser wavelength and fluence. 10,[12][13][14] The presence of liquid ambient reduces the possibility of post ablation aggregation due to capping on NPs. 12,17 Laser induced plasma has been extensively investigated at the solid-gas interface to understand the physical processes and the dynamics of plasma plume.…”

“…10,[12][13][14] The presence of liquid ambient reduces the possibility of post ablation aggregation due to capping on NPs. 12,17 Laser induced plasma has been extensively investigated at the solid-gas interface to understand the physical processes and the dynamics of plasma plume. 18,19 However, there are hardly any report on the investigation of laser ablation at the solid-liquid interface.…”

Investigation of shock-shock interaction and Mach reflection in laterally colliding laser-blow-off plasmas

“…Pulsed lasers in the various intensity range and ablation schemes have been used to create plasmas by irradiation of the bulk solid surfaces, metal foils, and thin films. [1][2][3][4][5] Laser produced colliding plasmas are interesting from physics as well as applications viewpoint. The collision of two plasma plumes under appropriate experimental conditions leads to the formation of interaction zone.…”