Laser Synthesis of Nanomaterials

Abstract

We present an overview of the basic principles and applications of laser-based synthesis of nanomaterials. Pulsed laser ablation (PLA) of a bulk solid leads to the formation of nanoparticles having essentially the target composition.When performed in vacuum or in a gas, the ejected clusters may accumulate on a subtrate, thus producing a nanostructured thin film. In liquids, it produces a colloidal solution. Laser interaction with micro/nanomaterials that are embedded in a solid or suspended in either a liquid or a gas is capable to melt and/or fragment the materials and/or induce the formation of new nanostructures and alloys. For these approaches, a detailed description of the mechanisms of laser ablation and nanoparticles growth is given.