Laser Ablation Of Bulk Targets Research Articles

On-The-Flight trapping, LIBS analysis and discrimination of single meteorite particles generated by laser ablation

BackgroundThousands of micrometeorites fall to the Earth on a daily basis. Most of these meteorites have a rocky composition, but others are mainly composed of iron and nickel. Due to their small size, often ca. 100 μm in diameter, the process of searching for, collecting, and identifying these samples is remarkably tedious. In this work, we introduce a minimally invasive methodology for evaluating the full elemental composition of micrometeorites using optical emission spectroscopy of single particles produced by laser ablation of bulk targets. ResultsBulk meteorite samples were directly ablated within an ablation cell. From few micrograms of ablated matrix, we originated dry aerosols consisting of multielemental particles which were representative of the sample chemistry. SEM images confirmed that the generated particles exhibited spherical geometry. Particles were first optically trapped in air and, then, analyzed by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). LIBS spectra evidenced compositional differences among samples. For example, Campo de Cielo meteorite featured a high iron content due to its metallic nature whereas LIBS results for Jbilet Winselwan and NWA 869 suggested that pyroxene components dominated the composition of the samples. In contrast, NWA 13739 and Vaca Muerta contained high aluminum intensity, thus indicating that the feldspathic component was dominant, as then verified by XRD. The intra-sample compositional variability were quite satisfactory, as revealed by the RSD data, below 45 %. For quantitative analysis, the percentages of FeO, SiO2, Al2O3, Na2O, MgO, TiO2, CaO, K2O, MnO, SrO, Cr2O3, and Li2O were calculated using CF-LIBS. SignificanceThis work demonstrates the applicability of laser excitation of individual particles in an optical trap for the multielemental analysis of meteorites. The methodology provides a complete overview of the samples, is capable of classificating them according to their main phases and yield preliminary quantitative information about those phases. Therefore, we present a minimally destructive pathway to be used as the first step in the inspection of these delicate samples. If the particles represent nanostructures inherent to the meteorites, it would constitute a major step in the analysis of extraterrestrial material that may provide fundamental insights into the structure and composition of the original materials at the microscale, a topic that remains an active area of research worldwide.

Tungsten disulfide nanoparticles produced by femtosecond laser ablation in water for nanophotonic applications

We demonstrate nearly spherical nanoparticles of tungsten disulfide (WS2) produced by femtosecond pulsed laser ablation of bulk target in deionized water. Structural and optical analysis reveals that produced nanospheres preserve the crystalline structure, high refractive index and support strong excitons and Mie resonances in the spectral range 400-700 nm, resulting in enhanced photothermal response probed by Raman spectroscopy.

Optical Trapping as a Morphologically Selective Tool for In Situ LIBS Elemental Characterization of Single Nanoparticles Generated by Laser Ablation of Bulk Targets in Air.

In the present work, the authors introduce a shape-specific methodology for evaluating the full elemental composition of single micro- and nanoparticles fabricated by laser ablation of bulk targets. For this purpose, bronze samples were directly ablated within an ablation cell, originating dry aerosols consisting of multielemental particles. The in situ generated particles were first optically trapped using air at atmospheric pressure as medium and, then, probed by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). A key aspect of this technology is the circumvention of possible material losses owing to transference into the inspection instrument while providing the high absolute sensitivity of single-particle LIBS analysis. From the results, we deepen the knowledge in laser-particle interaction, emphasizing fundamental aspects such as matrix effects and polydispersity during laser ablation. The dual role of air as the atomization and excitation source during the laser-particle interaction is discussed on the basis of spectral evidences. Fractionation was one of the main hindrances as it led to particle compositions differing from that of the bulk material. To address possible preferential ablation of some species in the laser-induced plasma, two fluence regimes were used for particle production, 23 and 110 J/cm2. LIBS analysis revealed a relationship between chemical composition of the individual particles and their sizes. At 110 J/cm2, 65% of the dislodged particles were distributed in the range of 100-500 nm, leading to a higher variability of the LIBS spectra among the inspected nanoparticles. In contrast, at 23 J/cm2, around 30% of the aerosolized particles were larger than 1 μm. At this regime, the composition better resembled the bulk material. Therefore, we present a pathway to evaluate how adequate the fabrication parameters are toward yielding particles of a specific morphology while preserving compositional resemblance to the parent bulk sample.

Pulsed laser ablation of bulk target and particle products in liquid for nanomaterial fabrication

Pulsed laser ablation in liquid (PLAL) is gradually becoming an attractive approach for nanomaterial fabrication because it is a chemically simple and clean method with high product purity. We studied the laser interaction with bulk target and particle products in detail, including mechanism process, target morphology and nanoparticle products. We captured three oscillations of one bubble after laser ablates the bulk target and calculated the variation of pressure and temperature inside the bubble. The results show that the first bubble oscillation has greatest impact on the nanomaterial synthesis, and the most powerful stages for the material synthesis during all the bubble oscillations are the beginning of each expansions and the end of each shrinks. Nanomaterial releases from the bubble at the end of each oscillations. In addition, based on the analysis of ablation cavity on the target, it is found that the cavity depth increases with the number of laser pulses, and then the depth tends to be under saturation status, which means it is difficult to obtain great improvement of the nanomaterial productivity just by prolonging the laser irradiation time. More importantly, the strong interaction between laser and particle products is presented clearly by time-resolved shadowgraphy, which can contributed to the modification of nanoparticle products.

Probing mesoscopic process of laser ablation in liquid by integrated method of optical beam deflection and time-resolved shadowgraphy

For nanomaterial fabrication by laser ablation in liquid (LAL), it is very important to understand the mesoscopic process of laser interaction with materials in liquid. We proposed a method combining time-resolved shadowgraphy and optical beam deflection method to study the LAL process in both pure water and water with nanoparticles (colloids). As the laser was focused on the target in pure water, the laser energy was absorbed by the target and plasma, shockwaves and bubbles were produced, along with the generation of nanoparticles. While in case of colloid, laser beam first passed through the solution, interacted with nanoparticles and induced plenty of sporadic shadows (small bubbles) on the beam path which were captured by shadowgraphy. Then, the laser arrived at the target and induced breakdown accompanied by the emergence of plasma, shockwave and bubbles. Meanwhile, the concentration of nanoparticle increased and the sizes of nanoparticle were modified. The radius and oscillation time of bubbles are much smaller in the colloid than that in pure water, mainly due to laser energy loss by breakdown of the nanoparticles and generation of small bubbles before reaching the target. Moreover, we found the maximum bubble radius and bubble oscillation time decrease quickly with laser irradiation times at the beginning, and then reach a plateau, because of laser energy lost on the way to the target. In addition, we used the ablation process to explain a bimodal size distribution of nanoparticles. This work will deepen our understanding on the mechanism of both laser ablation of bulk targets in liquid and laser irradiation of particles in liquid.

Formation of Titanium Carbide (TiC) and TiC@C core-shell nanostructures by ultra-short laser ablation of titanium carbide and metallic titanium in liquid

Laser ablation of bulk target in liquid allows to obtain stable nanoparticles and nanostructures, also in metastable phases, limiting the use of hazardous reagents and extreme reaction conditions. Titanium carbide (TiC) is a ceramic compound with several technological applications ranging from biocompatible materials to wear resistant coatings. The possibility to obtain core/shell structures expands its range of application due to the ability of modify the surface properties of the core ceramic material. TiC and metallic titanium targets have been ablated by means of an ultra-short laser source in different liquid media (water, acetone, n-hexane and toluene). The obtained colloidal solutions have been characterized by TEM, XRD and micro-Raman analysis. In all the used experimental conditions TiC nanoparticles have been produced. During water and acetone mediated ablations, the oxidation of titanium has been observed, whereas by using oxygen free solvents, such as n-hexane and toluene, core/shell TiC nanoparticles embedded in amorphous and graphitic carbon shell, respectively, have been obtained.

Optimization of the Process of Nanoparticle Fabrication by Laser Ablation of Bulk Targets in a Liquid

Optimization of the Process of Nanoparticle Fabrication by Laser Ablation of Bulk Targets in a Liquid

Silver-nanoparticle based bactericidal coating for poly(glycolide-co-lactide) suture threads obtained by the method of laser ablation of bulk targets in alcohol solutions

A laser ablation method is suggested to synthesize a dispersion of silver nanoparticles to create a bactericidal coating of biodegradable suture material from poly(glycolide-co-lactide) using a bulk target immersed in a liquid. The laser ablation method with nanosecond excitation by a Nd:YAG laser (1064 nm, 7 ns) is used to obtain silver nanoparticles with mean diameter of 27 nm in ethanol. Nanoparticle concentrations up to 12 mass% were obtained on the polymer surfaces by multiple impregnation.

Generation of nanospikes via laser ablation of metals in liquid environment and their activity in surface-enhanced Raman scattering of organic molecules

The formation of dense arrays of nanospikes occurs under laser ablation of bulk targets (Ag, Au, Ta, Ti) immersed in liquids such as water or ethanol. The average height of spikes is 50 nm and their density on the target amounts to 10 10 cm −2. The effect is observed with sufficiently short laser pulses. In particular, either a 350 ps or a 90 ps Nd:YAG lasers are used in their fundamental harmonics. The nanospikes are characterized by UV-Visible reflection spectrometry and atomic force microscopy. The oscillations of electrons within nanospikes result in a permanent coloration of the surface and a modification of the optical reflection spectra of the metal. Scanning the laser beam along the metal surface allows its nanostructuring over extended areas (∼1 cm 2). The nanostructured Ag surface shows enhanced Raman scattering of acridine molecules at a concentration of 10 −5 M/l, whereas the initial Ag targets do not show any signal within the accuracy of measurements.

γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles prepared by laser ablation of a tiny wire

A new method of preparing nanoparticles by pulsed laser ablation of a tiny wire is reported. A Nd : YAG pulsed laser with a wavelength of 1064 nm was used to ablate a 0.5-mm-diameter iron wire in a sealed chamber in a flowing mixed gas of N2, O2, and air to generate γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles. In the meantime, a bulk Fe sample was ablated in the same chamber with the same laser processing parameters in order to compare the effect of the bulk sizes on the production rates and the sizes of the nanoparticles. The experimental results demonstrated that the production rate of nanoparticles prepared by laser ablation of tiny wires was about eight times that of laser ablation of bulk targets with the same composition, while the sizes of the nanoparticles were basically the same. With a higher power density and/or smaller diameters of the metal wires, it is possible to obtain smaller sizes of the nanoparticles with higher production rates.

Production of III-V Nanocrystals by Picosecond Pulsed Laser Ablation

AbstractIn As nanoparticles have been produced by picosecond pulsed laser ablation of bulk targets in the presence of an inert backing gas. Atomic force microscopy measurements show particles ranging in size from one to ten nm. Stoichiometry of the targets, determined by Rutherford backscattering measurements, are typically preserved within ten percent. Optical absorption and raman scattering data help confirm the crystalline, quantum confined nature of the nanoparticles.

Spatial features of laser deposition of amorphous Co — Fe — B — Si magnetic films in an inhomogeneous magnetic field

An investigation was made of the magnetic characteristics of magnetic films formed on silicon substrates by laser ablation of bulk targets which had the Co68.15Fe4.35B15Si12.5 composition and a compensated magnetostriction. It was established for the first time that an inhomogeneous magnetic field perpendicular to the substrate could improve the soft magnetic properties of films. Such a field of maximum intensity 2.4 kOe could distort the spatial structure of a laser plume by focusing it on the substrate, which would increase the film deposition rate. The dependences of the coercivity and of the anisotropy field on the substrate temperature had a minimum. An analysis was made of the influence of the substrate orientation, relative to the laser plume, on the magnetic properties and on the film deposition rate.