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Photothermal Boost of Laser-Synthesized TiC Colloidal Variants with Engineered Solid-State Interfaces and
Farman Ullah1,2, Reza Karimi3, Holly M Fruehwald4
1Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave. West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada.
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|August 14, 2025
Summary
Green synthesis of titanium carbide (TiC) colloids using femtosecond laser fragmentation yields nanoparticles with enhanced photothermal efficiency. Shell-coated and nitridated TiC nanoparticles show superior light-to-heat conversion for energy and biomedical applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Green Chemistry
Background:
- Colloids are crucial in optics, energy conversion, and photothermal therapy.
- Titanium carbide (TiC) colloids are synthesized using a sustainable femtosecond laser fragmentation method.
- Controlling laser power influences the resulting TiC colloid structure and properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize different types of TiC colloids.
- To investigate the mechanisms of nanoparticle formation and their light-to-heat conversion properties.
- To explore the effects of nanoscale interface engineering and nitridation on TiC photothermal efficiency.
Main Methods:
- Femtosecond laser fragmentation of TiC in acetonitrile under varying laser powers.
- Characterization of synthesized nanoparticles (pure TiC, TiC with graphene shell, nitridated TiC with graphene shell).
- Photothermal measurements and Mie theory calculations for efficiency analysis.
Main Results:
- Three types of TiC colloids were produced by adjusting laser power: pure TiC, TiC/graphene, and nitridated TiC/graphene nanoparticles.
- Nanoparticles with graphene shells exhibited improved light-to-heat conversion due to light trapping.
- Nitridated TiC nanoparticles showed further enhancement, particularly in the near-infrared (NIR) region.
Conclusions:
- A green and sustainable method for synthesizing photothermally efficient TiC-based colloids was developed.
- Nanoscale interface engineering (graphene shells) and doping (nitridation) significantly enhance TiC photothermal performance.
- These engineered TiC colloids hold promise for advanced energy and biomedical applications.
