In-situ metal nanoparticle decoration on graphene sheets by Pulsed Laser Ablation in Liquids

Abstract

Nanocomposites formed by graphene and metal nanoparticles (MNPs) are considered to become one of the most important technological advances due to their wide application range, as it is possible to exploit the combination of electronic characteristics in graphene and optical characteristics in metallic nanostructures [1]. Conventionally, the in-situ synthesis of these kind of nanocomposites is achieved by means of reduction of metal salts in the presence of graphene derivatives or by the separated fabrication of MNPs and subsequent decoration of graphene derivatives [2]. The traditional synthesis approach neither avoid the creation of chemical waste that lead to cross-chemical effects nor allow the production ligand-free small MNPs without requiring the presence of any chemical stabilizer that results in the decrement of MNPs surface activity [3]. In this communication, show the synthesis of Gold and Silver NPs and its direct immobilization onto graphene sheets in a single reaction stage, using a strategy that does not require any reducing or stabilizing agent. Pulsed Laser Ablation in Liquids (PLAL) [4]. The NPs are produced in a liquid environment composed by a mixture of Water (18MΩ) and GO at different concentration ratios. The nanoparticles produced were naturally hoked and immobilized on the graphene oxide surface as it is shown in Figure 1, the average size and size distribution of particles, no matter the ratio concentration in the liquid mixture, was 2±2nm for Ag and 4±2nm for Au.