Laser-induced solution synthesis and deposition: A generic method to make metal chalcogenide nanotubes at high rate with high consistency

Abstract

This article reports a new processing method for manufacturing nanotubes and possibly other nano entities with consistency at high rate. We show that this method can be applied for a wide range of materials, as demonstrated by a variety of metal chalcogenides. The proposed novel laser-induced solution synthesis and deposition method is a quantum jump for improving the consistency and manufacturing rate of chemical bath deposition and electroless deposition. We demonstrate the generic nature of this method by synthesizing nanocrystals of a number of arbitrarily selected metal chalcogenides, that is, tin oxide, iron oxide, manganese oxide and zinc sulfide, and depositing each of them in an iontrack polymer membrane for making uniform nanotubes. The mechanism of the tube formation is discussed. High consistency, fast growth rate, scalability and the ability of laser patterning are observed. Moreover, high-resolution transmission electron microcopy images indicate that the nanotubes made by this method, as demonstrated in SnO 2 , are coalesced by monodisperse ultrafine nanoparticles.

Morphology Control by Pulsed Laser in Chemical Deposition Illustrated in ZnO Crystal Growth

“…Previous studies showed that it was feasible for a great variety of nanomaterials to be produced efficiently through solution-based reactions. SnO 2 , Fe 3 O 4 , MnO 2 , ZnS, etc., were successfully deposited by a pulsed-laser method in previous studies. − Conventional nanomaterial synthesis methods, such as chemical vapor deposition or hydrothermal reaction, usually show a low growth rate. For example, the typical growth rate of ZnO in a hydrothermal process is in the range of a few hundred nanometers per hour. − The growth rate in vapor depositions could reach a few nanometers per second, − but it usually requires high temperature which demands a well-controlled environment that is not always compatible with other nanofabrication processes.…”

An Exploratory Investigation of the Mechanical Properties of the Nanostructured Porous Materials Deposited by Laser-Induced Chemical Solution Synthesis

“…Based on the output of regression analysis, the fitted lines with least sum of square for models 1 and 2 are shown in Eqs. (9) and (10). Different from sample 1, the R square improves from 0.9936 to 0.9940 when adding coating thickness as explanatory variable.…”

“…Such advantages make the laser-induced chemical solution synthesis attractive and environmentally friendly. This innovative process [7,8] is scalable [9], generic [10], and capable of producing a significant improvement in the material performance [11]. It can greatly aid the development of nanostructured materials for a myriad of applications [7][8][9][10][11][12].…”

“…This innovative process [7,8] is scalable [9], generic [10], and capable of producing a significant improvement in the material performance [11]. It can greatly aid the development of nanostructured materials for a myriad of applications [7][8][9][10][11][12]. Knowledge of mechanical properties for nanostructured material provides crucial information in its selection for diverse structural application, and it must meet the required standard to function properly.…”

Laser Induced Chemical Deposition of Ferrihydrite Nanotubes: Exploring Growth Rate and Crystal Structure

“…Developing high rate nanomanufacturing processes along with low processing temperature, large area, and non-toxicity is of great importance for industrial applications. Economical production methods need to be developed so that the huge potential of nanomaterials with novel properties can be widely used [1][2][3]. Industrial synthesis of multiwall carbon nanotube at large scale with high production rate, reduced waste, and low cost in 1980s paved the way for the widespread carbon nanotube research and applications in the past two decades [4].…”