Laser-assisted production of spherical TiO2 nanoparticles in water

Nanotechnology. 2011 May 13;22(19):195606. doi: 10.1088/0957-4484/22/19/195606. Epub 2011 Mar 23.

Abstract

TiO(2) nanoparticles with controllable average diameter have been obtained by laser ablation in water. A monomode ytterbium doped fiber laser (YDFL) was used to ablate a metallic titanium target placed in deionized water. The resulting colloidal solutions were subjected to laser radiation to study the resizing effect. The crystalline phases, morphology and optical properties of the obtained nanoparticles were characterized by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), x-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and UV-vis absorption spectroscopy. The colloidal suspensions produced consisting of titanium dioxide crystalline nanoparticles show almost perfect spherical shape with diameters ranging from 3 to 40 nm. The nanoparticles are polycrystalline and exhibit anatase as well as rutile phases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Colloids / chemistry
  • Crystallization
  • Lasers*
  • Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / methods
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry
  • Nanotechnology / methods*
  • Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet / methods
  • Titanium / chemistry*
  • Water / chemistry*
  • Ytterbium / chemistry

Substances

  • Colloids
  • Water
  • titanium dioxide
  • Titanium
  • Ytterbium