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Updated: Jun 7, 2025
Large Area Substrate-Based Nanofabrication of Controllable and Customizable Gold Nanoparticles Via Capped Dewetting
Published on: February 26, 2019
Mapping nanoparticle formation and substrate heating effects: a fluence-resolved approach to pulsed laser-induced
Artemisa Mazón-Martínez1, Tupak García-Fernández2, Marco Antonio Martínez-Fuentes3
1Instituto de Ciencias Aplicadas y Tecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito Exterior s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México C.P. 04510, Mexico.
This study reveals two thresholds in pulsed laser dewetting of gold films, where substrate heating significantly influences nanoparticle formation and coverage. These findings enhance understanding of laser-material interactions for nanoparticle synthesis.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Laser Physics
Background:
- Pulsed laser dewetting is a method for synthesizing nanoparticles from thin metal films.
- Understanding the fluence-dependent evolution of nanoparticles is crucial for controlling their size, distribution, and properties.
- The role of substrate heating in laser-induced dewetting processes requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the fluence-dependent evolution of gold nanoparticles during pulsed laser dewetting.
- To analyze the impact of substrate heating on nanoparticle formation and film dewetting.
- To establish correlations between laser parameters, thermal effects, and resulting nanoparticle morphology.
Main Methods:
- Utilized single nanosecond pulsed laser dewetting of a gold thin film on a fused silica substrate.
- Employed an Airy-like laser spatial profile for controlled irradiation.
- Reconstructed scanning electron microscope images for panoramic morphological analysis and correlated with finite element thermal simulations.
Main Results:
- Identified two distinct fluence thresholds governing nanoparticle formation.
- The first threshold involves gold film dewetting at its melting point, forming large, sparse nanoparticles.
- The second threshold, linked to substrate melting point temperatures, results in numerous small nanoparticles and increased coverage due to enhanced adhesion from substrate heating.
Conclusions:
- Substrate heating plays a critical role in the formation of small gold nanoparticles and increased coverage during pulsed laser dewetting.
- Contact angle measurements confirm a shift in wettability, indicating altered substrate-gold interactions.
- The study highlights the complex interplay of laser fluence, material properties, and substrate interactions in pulsed laser dewetting.
