Effect of different hardness and melting point of the metallic surfaces on structural and optical properties of synthesized nanoparticles

Abstract

The relations between macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of materials are of utmost importance for synthesis of multi-atomic structures with advanced properties. We analyze the influence of pulse duration, pulse energy and temperature of liquid on the process of formation of nanoparticles (NPs) of the metals (In, Sn, Zn and W) with different hardness and melting temperature by laser ablation in liquid environment. Composition, morphology dynamics and properties of nanoparticle suspensions are studied using TEM analysis and Z-scan technique. The nonlinear optical properties of NPs are analyzed at 800 and 400 nm using 60 fs and 200 ps pulses. We show that pulse energy have little influence on the formation, morphology and size of NPs during ablation of low hardness and melting point metal (In). However, pulse duration plays a very important role during the formation of NPs, especially the ultra-short pulse has a positive effect on the preparation of NPs with smaller particle size. In addition, the temperature of liquid environment influences the formation of NPs and their nonlinear optical properties.