Synthesis of ceramic nanoparticles by ultrafast laser ablation of solid targets in water

We report production of nanoparticles of several advanced ceramics (Si3N4, SiC, AlN, and Al2O3) by ablation with femtosecond laser pulses of solid targets submerged in deionized water. The products withstand comparison with commercial nanoparticle suspensions obtained by other techniques as they are analyzed by means of transmission electron microscopy. As compared with metal nanoparticles produced with the same technique, we have found that the overall dependence of mean sizes and distribution widths on the laser fluence is similar. We explain why it is difficult to synthetize very small (<5 nm) and monodisperse particles in terms of ablation mechanism and discuss the aplicability of the technique for industrial production.