Synthesis and characterization of AgCl nanoparticles produced by laser ablation of Ag in NaCl solution

Abstract

In this work, the structural and optical properties of silver chloride nanoparticles produced by laser ablation of Ag plate in NaCl solution were investigated. Five different concentrations of NaCl solution were used as the ablation environment. The beam of a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser of 1064 nm wavelength and 7 ns pulse width was employed to irradiate the Ag target in NaCl solutions. Fluence of laser pulse was 1.5 J/cm2, and repetition rate was 5 Hz. Samples were prepared using 1500 pulses. Produced nanoparticles were characterized using UV–visible–NIR absorption, and transmission spectrum, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction pattern, photoluminescence spectrum, and dynamic light scattering method. Results show that laser ablation is a promising method to produce AgCl nanoparticles. Size of nanoparticles, their lattice structure, and bandgap energy as well as the production rate may be controlled by the concentration of NaCl in the ablation environment.