Thermal analytical model of size reduction (fragmentation) of colloidal metal nanoparticles by short laser pulses

• Published in: Photonics and nanostructures 2022-12, Vol.52, p.101055, Article 101055
• Main Author: Pustovalov, Victor K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Fragmentation; Heating; Laser; Nanoparticle; Size reduction
• ISSN: 1569-4410; 1569-4429
• DOI: 10.1016/j.photonics.2022.101055

Theoretical investigations and estimations of significant size reduction of the metal spherical nanoparticles by the laser pulses in a liquid medium have been carried out. Thermal analytical model has been developed for this purpose. The conservation energy law is used for the estimations of the threshold laser fluencies leading to the nanoparticle size reduction. The analytical dependencies of threshold fluencies on pulse durations, laser wavelengths and nanoparticle radii have been established and discussed for nanosecond and picosecond laser pulses. Comparison of some predicted values of the threshold laser parameters for the wavelength 532 nm for size reduction of gold spherical nanoparticle in water with the experimental data is given and satisfactory agreement of these results validates the model developed. These model and results can be used for the investigation of the thermal processes of the nanoparticle processing and the applications in various laser technologies. •Analytical study of significant size reduction of spherical nanoparticles by laser pulses in a liquid was carried out.•Conservation energy law was used for estimations of threshold laser fluencies leading to the nanoparticle size reduction.•Dependences of threshold fluencies on pulse durations and nanoparticle radii were established for nano and picosecond pulses.•Satisfactory agreement of theoretical results with experimental data validates the model developed.