Laser-induced forward transfer nanoparticle spray for printing of metallic nanophotocatalysts
摘要
Thin films of metallic palladium (Pd) of different thicknesses (30, 150, 450 nm) supported on silica glass slides were forward-nanosprayed in a plasma-piston regime by 1064-nm, 120-ns laser pulses at variable high (GW/cm2-level) peak laser intensities onto silicon substrates and carbon grids for chemical analysis and TEM sizing, respectively. The utilized peak laser intensities/fluences provide different spraying regimes – complete atomization/ionization, atomization or bulk boiling, depending on the Pd film thickness and the related volume energy deposition. The confined laser ablation regime, which is favorable for enlarged plasma/vapor pressure and its piston spraying, also surprisingly resulted in rather narrow dispersion state of the metallic palladium nanoparticles (50–100 nm) due to enhanced condensation in the confined vapor cavity at the film/substrate interface. The proposed procedure looks promising for direct printing large-surface Pd-based supported plasmonic nanophotocatalysts, with the minor unfavorable screening effect of the vaporized silica substrate.