Biocompatible nanoparticles production by pulsed laser ablation in liquids

Abstract

The preparation of spherical metallic nanoparticles (NPs), in the range of 10–100 nm, using pulsed laser ablation in water has particular interest in many scientific fields. The fast released laser energy to the solid metal in water produces plasma at the solid-liquid interface generating NPs in solution. The size distribution and the solution concentration depend by many parameters concerning the laser source (wavelength, pulse energy, pulse duration), the irradiation conditions (target depth in water, focal spot, repetition rate, irradiation time), and the medium where the ablation occurs (water, solution concentration, presence of surfactants). Optimal conditions can be found to control the average particle size, the size distribution, and the coalescence effect. A study of the NPs dependence from the ns pulsed Nd:YAG laser, irradiating metals in water is presented, discussing also the physical characterization of the produced NPs employing microscopy and optical analyses.