Zn/ZnO core/shell nanoparticles synthesized by laser ablation in aqueous environment: Optical and structural characterizations

Abstract

Zn/ZnO core/shell nanoparticles are synthesized by pulsed laser ablation (PLA) of Zn metal plate in the aqueous environment of sodium dodacyl sulfate (SDS). Solution of nanoparticles is found stable in the colloidal form for a long time, and is characterized by UV-visible absorption, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), photoluminescence (PL) and Raman spectroscopic techniques. UV-visible absorption spectrum has four peaks at 231, 275, 356, and 520 nm, which provides primary information about the synthesis of core-shell and elongated nanoparticles. TEM micrographs reveal that synthesized nanoparticles are monodispersed with three different average sizes and size distributions. Colloidal solution of nanoparticles has significant absorption in the green region, therefore, it absorbs 514·7 nm light of Ar+ laser and emits in the blue region centred at 350 and 375 nm, violet at 457 nm and green at 550 nm regions. Raman shift is observed at 300 cm−1 with PL spectrum, which corresponds to 3E2N and E3L mode of vibrations of ZnO shell layer. Synthesis mechanism of Zn/ZnO core/shell nanoparticles is discussed.