Femtosecond and nanosecond laser ablation-assisted fabrication of metal and metal oxides nanostructures

Project leaders

Salvatore Amoruso, Nikolay Nedyalkov

Agreement

BULGARIA - BAS - Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

Call

CNR/BAS 2013-2015

Department

Materials and Devices

Thematic area

Physical sciences and technologies of matter

Status of the project

New

Research proposal

Present state of knowledge in the field, significance and objectives of the joint research:
The project is in the field of the interaction of ns and fs laser pulses with bulk material and thin films material (metals, semiconductors and dielectrics), and fabrication of nanoobjects and 2- and 3D structures. It is based on a previous and fruitful collaboration (Joint research projects 2004-2006 and 2010-2012) which have produced original and very interesting common achievements, already published [1-6]. As the understanding of basic mechanisms of ultrashort laser ablation is rapidly developing and the possibilities offered by the technique are being explored, new theoretical and experimental efforts are needed to keep the pace. Moreover, new nanoobjects, thin films and characterization of its properties – optical, photo-luminescent, spectroscopic, morphologic, etc. will be envisaged. The present project aims to further clarify the properties of the laser ablation process with ultrashort pulses and explore its merits in advanced laser applications. It will also take advantage from the good complementariness of the two participants, with well-established experimental and theoretical background on the topic.
Femtosecond lasers have opened wide-range and exciting new possibilities in micro- and nano-fabrications of metals, polymers, semiconductors, ultrahard materials, transparent materials, and tissues with possible applications in different fields (automotive, pharmaceutics, process and automation technologies, defense, aerospace, information technology, telecommunication, biotechnology, medicine, measurement and microscopy, environmental technology, etc. [7,8]. Moreover, they are a powerful and unique tools for production of nanostructures and nanoparticles [4,9-12]. The synthesis of perfectly identical and ordered nanoparticles in large quantities stands for the ultimate challenge. A route to an optimal control of the shape, size, and ordering of nanoparticles is based on the combination of solid state science and soft chemistry.
The nanosecond laser pulses already found efficient applications in many areas of the modern technologies.
Based on well developed technique for laser deposition of thin films and laser structuring of different materials, the new challenge now are nanotechnologies. It is shown that nanosecond laser ablation can be applied in fabrication of nanostructured thin films, nanoparticle arrays and nanoparticle colloids [13]. The interest in these applications is growing due to the low cost of these laser systems related to the ultrashort ones.
 With the development of reliable methods for nanoparticle production, the efforts are now directed to fabrication of more complex systems as composite, alloy and multilayered particles. Such structures may enhance some specific characteristics compared to the single material particle and even express new properties [14,15]. A special interest is directed to noble/noble and noble/ferromagnetic bimetallic particles with potential applications in catalysis, bio-photonics and magneto-optics [16]. Ag/Co, Ag/Ni, and Au/Ni particles may show prominent plasmon effects combined with magnetic properties. The plasmon resonance wavelength of alloy Au/Ag nanoparticles can be precisely tuned in a wide spectral range by changing the ratio between both metals.
The metal oxides (ZnO, TiO2) has attracted great attention recently since they can be applied in many industrial processes due to its specific chemical and physical properties. Based on these materials are successfully used as a photo-catalyst for different photo-chemical applications in gas or aqueous phase [17]. Being at nanosize dimensions theses materials can express different morphologies with different optical and catalytic properties. Although these structures are objects of significant interest their properties still need a detailed description.
Relation to other projects (partners, titles, duration, and funding):
Bulgarian National Science Foundation, “Plasmon and optical properties of metal nanoparticles and their application in high sensitive Raman spectroscopy and biophotonics, 2009-2012
Italian Firb 2011 Project Sensor – Oxides at the nanoscale: multifunctionality and applications” funded by Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR) for the period 2012-2014.
References:
[1] Amoruso et al, J. Appl. Phys., 98 (4) 1 (2005)
[2] Amoruso et al, J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 40, 331 (2007)
[3] Amoruso et al Nanotech., 18, 145612 (2007)
[4] Nedialkov et al, Appl. Surf. Sci. 253, 7761 (2007)
[5] Atanasov et al, C.R. Acad. Bulg. Sci. 61, 863 (2008)
[6] Amoruso et al, J. Appl. Phys. 110, 124303, 1-4 (2011)
[7] Bao et al, Sensors & Actuators A 56, 135 (1996)
[8] Fluiman, Sensor & Actuators A 56, 151 (1996)
[9] Chichkov et al, Appl. Phys. A, 63, 2, 109 (1996)
[10] Holmes, SPIE Photonics West LASE2001, January 19-26, 2001, San Jose, California
[11] Holmes et al, J. Microelectromech. Syst., 7, 416 (1998)
[12] Simonet al, Appl. Phys. A, 74, 9, S189 (2002)
[13] Ruffino et al, Nanotech. 23, 045601 (2012)
[14] Bochicchio et al, NanoLett. 10, 4211 (2010)
[15] Major et al, Plasmonics 4, 61 (2009)
[16] Delfour et al, Phys. Rev. Lett. 103 205701 (2009)
[17] Veres et al, Catalysis Today 181 156 (2012)

Research goals

Obiettivi: (Objectives)
The main goals of the project are concentrated on:

Experimental study of metal, oxide and composite nano-objects formation from laser ablation of bulk and thin film targets;
Detailed experimental and theoretical study of the process of ultrashort laser ablation of metals, metal layers and oxides, including mechanisms of ablation, processes involved in the target material;
Description of the interaction of the ultrashort laser radiation with matter using Molecular Dynamics simulation technique;
Analyses of the produced nano-objects, films and structures – SEM, photo-luminescence, spectroscopic, AFM, magnetic, morphologic, etc.
Definition of crucial and optimal parameters for fabrication of structures with desired characteristics

The results obtained in the frame of the project can be used in different areas of nanophotonics – precise micro- and nano-machining, production of pure and alloyed nano-objects as nanoparticles, nanorods, nanolayers, nanowires, pulsed laser deposition and annealing of thin films, etc.
 The cooperation will be focused on:

Common experimental and theoretical study of ns and fs laser pulses-matter interaction;
Common experimental and theoretical study of nano-objects fabrication;
Common experimental study of the optical and spectroscopic properties of the produced nanoparticles-assembled structures and nonostructures  ;
Consultation and discussions;
Exchange of scientific information, materials and instruments;
Common publications.

 
Relation to other projects (partners, titles, duration, and funding):
Bulgarian National Science Foundation, “Plasmon and optical properties of metal nanoparticles and their application in high sensitive Raman spectroscopy and biophotonics, 2009-2012
Italian Firb 2011 Project Sensor – Oxides at the nanoscale: multifunctionality and applications” funded by Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR) for the period 2012-2014.

Last update: 08/06/2025