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Updated: Feb 12, 2026

Controllable Nucleation of Cavitation from Plasmonic Gold Nanoparticles for Enhancing High Intensity Focused Ultrasound Applications
Published on: October 5, 2018
Formation of Metal Nanoparticles Directly from Bulk Sources Using Ultrasound and Application to E-Waste Upcycling
John Watt1, Mariah J Austin1, Chester K Simocko2
1Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM, 87185, USA.
Abstract:
A method for creating nanoparticles directly from bulk metal by applying ultrasound to the surface in the presence of a two-part surfactant system is presented. Implosive collapse of cavitation bubbles near the bulk metal surface generates powerful microjets, leading to material ejection. This liberated material is captured and stabilized by a surfactant bilayer in the form of nanoparticles. The method is characterized in detail using gold, but is also demonstrated on other metals and alloys, and is generally applicable. It is shown that nanoparticles can be produced regardless of the bulk metal form factor, and the method is extended to an environmentally important problem, the reclamation of gold from an electronic waste stream.
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