Study of laser fragmentation process of silver nanoparticles in aqueous media

• Published in: Applied physics. A, Materials science & processing Materials science & processing, 2008-12, Vol.93 (4), p.973-976
• Main Authors: Šmejkal, Petr, Pfleger, Jiří, Vlčková, Blanka
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Condensed Matter Physics; Evolution; Fluence; Fragmentation; Lasers; Machines; Manufacturing; Nanoparticles; Nanotechnology; Optical and Electronic Materials; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Processes; Saturation; Silver; Spectra; Surfaces and Interfaces; Thin Films
• ISSN: 0947-8396; 1432-0630
• DOI: 10.1007/s00339-008-4770-1

Laser fragmentation of Ag nanoparticles in Ag hydrosol was studied by simultaneous measurements of the transmitted fluence of the incident laser beam and the time evolution of the surface plasmon extinction (SPE) spectra. The experiments showed that the laser fragmentation in a small volume of hydrosol proceeds during first 20 pulses and then reaches saturation. The value of the transmitted fluence corresponding to saturation increases with incident pulse fluence, but the impact of the first pulse applied to the hydrosols shows an optical limitation. Fluences above 303 mJ/cm 2 cause the formation of less stable, aggregating nanoparticles, while fluences below 90 mJ/cm 2 do not provide sufficient energy for efficient fragmentation. The interval of fluences between 90–303 mJ/cm 2 is optimal for fragmentation, since stable hydrosols constituted by small, non-aggregated nanoparticles are formed.