Formation of Nanoparticles by Laser Ablation in Solution

Abstract

Nanometer sized particles can show size dependent physical and chemical properties. Hence, preparation of size-controlled metal nanoparticles in a solution is one of the important subjects in chemistry and physics of nano-scale materials. A considerable number of efforts have been directed for developing methods of their preparation such as chemical reduction of a metal salt in a micelle or a reversed micelle. On the analogy of the laser ablation for preparing gas-phase clusters, a laser ablation method for preparation of metal nanoparticles in a liquid has also been developed by many researchers. Recent development of laser ablation in a solution for the nanoparticle production is overviewed. Mechanism of nanoparticles formation, size-reduction and relevant physical processes are described.