Ablation energy, water volume and ablation time: Gold nanoparticles obtained through by pulsed laser ablation in liquid

Abstract

It was studied the production of gold nanoparticles from a gold target by pulsed laser ablation in liquid medium. This technique allows replacing conventional methods of preparing nanoparticles without the need for precursors, where gold is used in its metallic state. Experimental tests were performed to determine the appropriate synthesis conditions to achieve small particle sizes. The variables studied were water volume, ablation time and ablation energy. Gold nanoparticles with spherical geometry, in metallic, and nanocrystalline state were obtained without the need to use precursors and stabilizers. Ablation energy is the most influential variable on the particle size, because it was observed that when is increased the ablation energy is generate greater particle sizes.