Fabrication of the smallest organic nanocolloids by a top-down method based on laser ablation

Stable aqueous colloids of 10-nm sized organic nanoparticles were tailored by laser ablation of microcrystalline quinacridone in water. The nanocolloids were flaky in shape and had the dimension of a width of 13 (±5) nm and a height of 1.4 (±0.5) nm. The formation mechanism is discussed in terms of laser-induced fragmentation of organic solids and the potential application of aqueous organic nanocolloids free from any additives and chemicals is considered.