Size distributions and synthesis of nanoparticles by photolytic dissociation of ferrocene

Iron-containing nanoparticles were made by laser-assisted (ArF excimer laser, λ=193 nm) photolytic dissociation of ferrocene (Fe(C₅H₅)₂ or FeCp₂) in argon and an oxygen/argon gas mixture. The particle-size distributions were obtained on-line by using differential mobility analysers (DMAs) and were found to be log-normal with a geometric standard deviation of 1.85. In argon, particle sizes between 3 and 100 nm were generated. The volumes of these particles were found to increase linearly with the increased repetition rate, fluence and beam size of the laser. These observations are explained on the basis of the residence-time approach model. Received: 23 November 1999 / Accepted: 19 September 2000 / Published online: 22 November 2000