Aspects of nanoparticle formation during pulsed laser ablation

Richard F. Wood; Jean-Noel G. LeBoeuf; David B. Geohegan; Alexander A. Puretzky; Kuan-Ren Chen

doi:10.1117/12.380807

23 March 2000 Aspects of nanoparticle formation during pulsed laser ablation

Richard F. Wood, Jean-Noel G. LeBoeuf, David B. Geohegan, Alexander A. Puretzky, Kuan-Ren Chen

Proceedings Volume 3935, Laser Plasma Generation and Diagnostics; (2000) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.380807
Event: Symposium on High-Power Lasers and Applications, 2000, San Jose, CA, United States

Abstract

Laser ablation is one of the most effective ways of making single-wall carbon nanotubes. Although the process is poorly understood, the importance of nanoparticle formation to initiate tube growth is evident. While some groups have concluded that nanoparticles can form in vacuum, we have argued that this is unlikely because the expansion of the plume is so rapid that the 'freezing limit' is reached too rapidly for nucleation and growth to the observed size. A background gas changes the dynamics completely. Calculations show that in a few microseconds the ablated plume is dramatically slowed by the 'snowplowing' of the background gas into a peak whose density is much greater than its initial density. The ablated material is trapped within this peak. The question then arises as to how this peak dissipates by diffusion. A simple calculation shows that it is at this point that a drastic change in the timescale of the process occurs so that there is ample time (milliseconds) for nanoparticles to nucleate and grow.

Citation Download Citation

Richard F. Wood, Jean-Noel G. LeBoeuf, David B. Geohegan, Alexander A. Puretzky, and Kuan-Ren Chen "Aspects of nanoparticle formation during pulsed laser ablation", Proc. SPIE 3935, Laser Plasma Generation and Diagnostics, (23 March 2000); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.380807

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