Optimization, Yield Studies and Morphology of WO3Nano-Wires Synthesized by Laser Pyrolysis in C2H2and O2Ambients—Validation of a New Growth Mechanism

A Review of the Laser Pyrolysis Technique Used to Synthesize Vanadium and Tungsten Oxide Thin Films

Laser pyrolysis is one of the most important and emerging techniques used to synthesize thin films, nano-powders and nano-structured materials. The advantages in this technique include: a well defined interaction volume, no interactions with the reactor chamber walls hence less impurities, and the attainment of very fine particles. In this paper we briefly review the development and the current status of laser pyrolysis world wide. However, the main focus is an overview of our efforts to synthesize vanadium and tungsten oxides using this technique since 2006. We discuss the role of the laser pyrolysis parameters: the beam waist, interaction volume, carrier gas flow rates, laser wavelength and power density on the phase, size and shape of the final products obtained.

Formation of tungsten oxide nanostructures by laser pyrolysis: stars, fibres and spheres

In this letter, the production of multi-phase WO3 and WO3-x (where x could vary between 0.1 and 0.3) nanostructures synthesized by CO2-laser pyrolysis technique at varying laser wavelengths (9.22-10.82 mm) and power densities (17-110 W/cm2) is reported. The average spherical particle sizes for the wavelength variation samples ranged between 113 and 560 nm, and the average spherical particle sizes for power density variation samples ranged between 108 and 205 nm. Synthesis of W18O49 (= WO2.72) stars by this method is reported for the first time at a power density and wavelength of 2.2 kW/cm2 and 10.6 μm, respectively. It was found that more concentrated starting precursors result in the growth of hierarchical structures such as stars, whereas dilute starting precursors result in the growth of simpler structures such as wires.

Self Assembly and Properties of C:WO(3) Nano-Platelets and C:VO(2)/V(2)O(5) Triangular Capsules Produced by Laser Solution Photolysis

Laser photolysis of WCl(6) in ethanol and a specific mixture of V(2)O(5) and VCl(3) in ethanol lead to carbon modified vanadium and tungsten oxides with interesting properties. The presence of graphene's aromatic rings (from the vibrational frequency of 1,600 cm(-1)) together with C-C bonding of carbon (from the Raman shift of 1,124 cm(-1)) present unique optical, vibrational, electronic and structural properties of the intended tungsten trioxide and vanadium dioxide materials. The morphology of these samples shows nano-platelets in WO(x) samples and, in VO(x) samples, encapsulated spherical quantum dots in conjunction with fullerenes of VO(x). Conductivity studies revealed that the VO(2)/V(2)O(5) nanostructures are more sensitive to Cl than to the presence of ethanol, whereas the C:WO(3) nano-platelets are more sensitive to ethanol than atomic C.

Pulsed-Laser-Induced Simple Synthetic Route for Tb(3)Al(5)O(12):Ce Colloidal Nanocrystals and Their Luminescent Properties

Cerium-doped Tb(3)Al(5)O(12) (TAG:Ce(3+)) colloidal nanocrystals were synthesized by pulsed laser ablation (PLA) in de-ionized water and lauryl dimethylaminoacetic acid betain (LDA) aqueous solution for luminescent bio-labeling application. The influence of LDA molecules on the crystallinity, crystal morphology, crystallite size, and luminescent properties of the prepared TAG:Ce(3+) colloidal nanocrystals was investigated in detail. When the LDA solution was used, smaller average crystallite size, narrower size distribution, and enhanced luminescence were observed. These characteristics were explained by the effective role of occupying the oxygen defects on the surface of TAG:Ce(3+) colloidal nanocrystal because the amphoteric LDA molecules were attached by positively charged TAG:Ce(3+) colloidal nanocrystals. The blue-shifted phenomena found in luminescent spectra of the TAG:Ce(3+) colloidal nanocrystals could not be explained by previous crystal field theory. We discuss the 5d energy level of Ce(3+) with decreased crystal size with a phenomenological model that explains the relationship between bond distance with 5d energy level of Ce(3+) based on the concept of crystal field theory modified by covalency contribution.

Preparation of Ultrafine Fe-Pt Alloy and Au Nanoparticle Colloids by KrF Excimer Laser Solution Photolysis

We prepared ultrafine Fe-Pt alloy nanoparticle colloids by UV laser solution photolysis (KrF excimer laser of 248 nm wavelength) using precursors of methanol solutions into which iron and platinum complexes were dissolved together with PVP dispersant to prevent aggregations. From TEM observations, the Fe-Pt nanoparticles were found to be composed of disordered FCC A1 phase with average diameters of 0.5-3 nm regardless of the preparation conditions. Higher iron compositions of nanoparticles require irradiations of higher laser pulse energies typically more than 350 mJ, which is considered to be due to the difficulty in dissociation of Fe(III) acetylacetonate compared with Pt(II) acetylacetonate. Au colloid preparation by the same method was also attempted, resulting in Au nanoparticle colloids with over 10 times larger diameters than the Fe-Pt nanoparticles and UV-visible absorption peaks around 530 nm that originate from the surface plasmon resonance. Differences between the Fe-Pt and Au nanoparticles prepared by the KrF excimer laser solution photolysis are also discussed.