Infrared laser-produced carbon-phase shield to oxidation of nanosized titanium monoxide

Pulsed infrared laser-irradiation of titanium monoxide leads to ablation and when carried out in gaseous benzene (1-5 Torr) to simultaneous dielectric breakdown of benzene into low molecular carbonaceous species which allow carbothermal reduction of ablated TiO_x particles and their protection by carbonaceous shell. The deposited particles are characterized by Fourier transform infrared Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and by electron microscopy and shown to be stable towards oxidation in air. The reported process can find use in protection of gas-phase produced reactive nanoparticles by carbon phase.