Metal Oxide Nanoparticle Preparation by Pulsed Laser Ablation of Metallic Targets in Liquid

The basic mechanisms of pulsed laser ablation in liquids (PLAL) as a method for the synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) were considered. Physical and chemical processes occurring during the PLAL that determine the formation, composition and structure of the nanoparticles obtained are described. The influence of the composition and properties of the target material, the solvent and the characteristics of the laser irradiation on the efficiency of the synthesis of nanoparticles is discussed. Separately, an influence of the absorption and scattering (including nonlinear) of laser radiation in the dispersion of nanoparticles on the primary synthetic processes and secondary transformations inside the colloidal solution is examined. The specificity of the characterization of the colloidal solutions of oxide particles produced by PLAL is highlighted. The most promising practical applications of nanomaterials obtained are identified and the examples of their successful use in catalytic research and biomedicine are provided

Nanoparticles of Metals Oxides Preparation and Characterization

Abstract -Water dispersions of four metal oxides nanoparticles were synthesized by pulsed laser ablation of metallic targets (Ce, Cu, Ti, Zn) in water. The fundamental harmonic of nanosecond Nd:YAG laser was used. Nanocrystalline powders of oxides were obtained from the dispersions. The composition and structure of the materials obtained were investigated. The average size of the crystallites was found to be 10-20 nm. Cubic CeO2 and Cu2O, wurtzite-type ZnO and anatase/brookite mixture of TiO2 were identified in products. CeO2 was obtained from metallic Ce target for the first time. As prepared nanostructured semiconductors can be used in catalysis and photocatalysis, sunscreen technology, in biomedicine, and as antibacterial agents

Potential of sub-THz-wave generation in Li2B4O7 nonlinear crystal at room and cryogenic temperatures

Due to their high optical damage threshold, borate crystals can be used for the efficient nonlinear down-conversion of terawatt laser radiation into the terahertz (THz) frequency range of the electromagnetic spectrum. In this work, we carried out a thorough study of the terahertz optical properties of the lithium tetraborate crystal (Li2B4O7; LB4) at 295 and 77 K. Approximating the terahertz refractive index in the form of Sellmeier’s equations, we assessed the possibility of converting the radiation of widespread high-power laser sources with wavelengths of 1064 and 800 nm, as well as their second and third harmonics, into the THz range. It was found that four out of eight types of three-wave mixing processes are possible. The conditions for collinear phase matching were fulfilled only for the o - e -o type of interaction, while cooling the crystal to 77 K did not practically affect the phase-matching curves. However, a noticeable increase of birefringence in the THz range with cooling (from 0.12 to 0.16) led to an increase in the coherence length for o-o-e and e-e-e types of interaction, which are potentially attractive for the down-conversion of ultrashort laser pulses

Dielectric properties of BiB3O6 crystal in the sub-THz range

We present the thorough studies of dielectric properties of BiB3O6 (BIBO) crystal in the sub-THz range. We observe a large birefringence Δn = nZ −nX = 1.5 and the values of absorption coefficients of all three axes to be less than 0.5 cm−1. The difference from visible range in angle ϕ between the axes z and X is found to be more than 6°. The simulated phase-matching curves show the optimal value of the angle θ to be around 25.5°±1° for an efficient millimeter-wave generation under the pump of 1064 nm laser radiation

Millimetre-wave range optical properties of BIBO

We present the thorough studies of optical properties of BiB3O6 (BIBO) crystal in the millimeter-wave (subterahertz) range. We observe a large birefringence Δn = nZ −nX = 1.5 and the values of absorption coefficients of all three axes to be less than 0.5 cm−1 at the frequency of 0.3 THz. The difference from visible range in angle ϕ between the dielectric axis z and crystallophysical axis X is found to be more than 6°. The simulated phase-matching curves in the xz plane of the crystal show the optimal value of the angle θ to be around 25.5°±1° for an efficient millimeter-wave generation under the pump of 1064 nm laser radiation

Influence of Titania Synthesized by Pulsed Laser Ablation on the State of Platinum during Ammonia Oxidation

A set of physicochemical methods, including X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy and X-ray absorption spectroscopy, was applied to study Pt/TiO$_{2}$ catalysts prepared by impregnation using a commercial TiO$_{2}$-P25 support and a support produced by pulsed laser ablation in liquid (PLA). The Pt/TiO$_{2}$-PLA catalysts showed increased thermal stability due to the localization of the highly dispersed platinum species at the intercrystalline boundaries of the support particles. In contrast, the Pt/TiO$_{2}$-P25 catalysts were characterized by uniform distribution of the Pt species over the support. Analysis of Pt4f XP spectra shows that oxidized Pt$^{2+}$ and Pt$^{4+}$ species are formed in the Pt/TiO$_{2}$-P25 catalysts, while the platinum oxidation state in the Pt/TiO$_{2}$-PLA catalysts is lower due to stronger interaction of the active component with the support due to strong interaction via Pt-O-Ti bonds. The Pt4f XP spectra of the samples after reaction show Pt$^{2+}$ and metallic platinum, which is the catalytically active species. The study of the catalytic properties in ammonia oxidation showed that, unlike the catalysts prepared with a commercial support, the Pt/TiO$_{2}$-PLA samples show higher stability during catalysis and significantly higher selectivity to N$_{2}$ in a wide temperature range of 200–400 °C

In situ probing of Pt/TiO2_{2} activity in low-temperature ammonia oxidation

The improvement of the low-temperature activity of the supported platinum catalysts in selective ammonia oxidation to nitrogen is still a challenging task. The recent developments in in situ/operando characterization techniques allows to bring new insight into the properties of the systems in correlation with their catalytic activity. In this work, near ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (NAP-XPS) and operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) techniques were applied to study Pt/TiO$_{2}$ catalysts in ammonia oxidation (NH$_{3}$ + O$_{2}$ reaction). Several synthesis methods were used to obtain samples with different size of Pt particles, oxidation state of Pt, and morphology of the support. Metal platinum particles on titania prepared by pulsed laser ablation in liquids exhibited the highest activity at lower temperatures with the temperature of 50% conversion of NH$_{3}$ being 150 °C. The low-temperature activity of the catalysts synthesized by impregnation can be improved by the reductive pretreatment. NAP-XPS and operando XANES data do not show formation of PtO$_{x}$ surface layers or PtO/PtO$_{2}$ oxides during NH$_{3}$ + O$_{2}$ reaction. Despite the differences in the oxidation state of platinum in the as-prepared catalysts, their treatment in the reaction mixture results in the formation of metallic platinum particles, which can serve as centers for stabilization of the adsorbed oxygen species. Stabilization of the bulk platinum oxide structures in the Pt/TiO$_{2}$ catalysts seems to be less favorable due to the metal–support interaction

Antibacterial activity of zinc oxide nanoparticles obtained by pulsed laser ablation in water and air

The paper studies physicochemical and antibacterial properties of ZnO nanoparticles obtained by pulsed laser ablation in water and air. Their composition and structure were studied by X-ray diffraction, transmission and scanning electron microscopy. Antibacterial activity of the nanoparticles was examined by its affection on Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (S.aureus). The dependence of nanoparticles’ physical and chemical antibacterial properties on the conditions of the ablation was shown. The model materials for the antibacterial bandage were made of cotton, filter paper and biodegradable polymer scaffolds (poly-l-lactide acid), and then they were coated with the obtained ZnO nanoparticles. The model bandage materials were examined by the scanning electron microscopy method and their antibacterial activity (ISO 20743:2013) was determined. High activity of all the samples against S.aureus was proved

Antibacterial activity of zinc oxide nanoparticles obtained by pulsed laser ablation in water and air

The paper studies physicochemical and antibacterial properties of ZnO nanoparticles obtained by pulsed laser ablation in water and air. Their composition and structure were studied by X-ray diffraction, transmission and scanning electron microscopy. Antibacterial activity of the nanoparticles was examined by its affection on Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (S.aureus). The dependence of nanoparticles’ physical and chemical antibacterial properties on the conditions of the ablation was shown. The model materials for the antibacterial bandage were made of cotton, filter paper and biodegradable polymer scaffolds (poly-l-lactide acid), and then they were coated with the obtained ZnO nanoparticles. The model bandage materials were examined by the scanning electron microscopy method and their antibacterial activity (ISO 20743:2013) was determined. High activity of all the samples against S.aureus was proved