Nanoparticle generation during laser ablation and laser-induced liquefaction

Recently short-pulse laser sources have been investigated as a potential method for nanoparticle synthesis. Deposited aluminium, nickel and gold nanoparticles generated during nano- and femto-second laser ablation were analyzed using SEM and AFM. As the environment in which laser ablation takes place is known to influence the size of generated nanoparticles, a novel gas ambient that generates a transient liquid phase was investigated. This ambient offers favorable properties to overcome some issues typically encountered with ablation in gases or liquids alone. The Laser-Induced Liquefaction (LIL) process most notably lead to a reduced mean radius of aluminium nanoparticles from 36.8 nm in air to 12.7 nm.