Phase diagrams of laser-processed nanoparticles of brass

Nanoparticles of brass are prepared by ablation of a brass target in ethanol using radiation of a copper-vapor laser at various laser fluences. The nanoparticles are characterized by TEM and optical spectroscopy. The multipulse laser irradiation leads to formation both the nanoparticles in liquid and well-ordered micro-structures on a surface of a target. It is revealed that both the morphology and absorption spectra of brass nanoparticles depend on presence of the micro-structures. Nanoparticles with the various phase diagrams are formed from a flat brass surface and from the same surface with micro-structures. The results are compared with a model of phase diagrams, in which size and composition effects are taken into account.     

Combination of spark discharge and nanoparticle-enhanced laser-induced plasma spectroscopy

A combination of spark discharge and nanoparticle-enhanced laser-induced plasma spectroscopy is investigated. Depositing Au nanoparticles at the surface of a brass target can enhance the coupling of the target and the laser. More atoms in the brass sample are excited. As a secondary excitation source, spark discharge reheats the generated plasma, which further amplifies the enhancement results of nanoparticles. The spectral intensity with the spark discharge increases more obviously with nanoparticle concentration increasing than without the spark discharge. Also, plasma temperature and electron density are calculated by the Boltzmann plot and Stark broadening. The changes in the plasma temperature and electron density are consistent with the spectral emission changes.     

Laser induced synthesis of nanoparticles in liquids

The review of results on nanoparticles formation is presented under laser ablation of Ag, Au, and Cu-containing solid targets in liquid environments (H₂O, C₂H₅OH, C₂H₄Cl₂, etc.). X-ray diffractometry (XRD), UV-vis optical transmission spectrometry, and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) characterize the nanoparticles. The morphology of nanoparticles is studied as the function of both laser fluence and nature of the liquid. The possibility to control the shape of nanoparticles by ablation of an Au target by an interference pattern of two laser beams is demonstrated. Formation of alloyed Au-Ag and Ag-Cu nanoparticles is reported under laser exposure of a mixture of individual nanoparticles. The effect of internal segregation of brass nanoparticles is discussed due to their small lateral dimensions. The factors are discussed that determine the distribution function of particles size under laser ablation. The influence of laser parameters as well as the nature on the liquid on the properties of nanoparticles is elucidated.     

Formation of periodic structures by laser ablation of metals in liquids

Experimental results are presented on ablation of metals (W, Cu, brass and bronze) in a liquid environment (e.g., ethanol or water) by irradiation with either a pulsed copper vapor laser (0.51 μm) or a pulsed Nd:YAG laser (1.06 μm). The target material is ejected into surrounding liquid in the form of nanoparticles. In a certain range of laser parameters (fluence and number of laser shots) the surface of the solid target is composed of micro-cones having a regular structure. The distance between neighboring micro-cones in the structure depends on the laser spot size. The structures allow the observation of up-conversion of the laser frequency due to generation of the second harmonics in the eye retina.     

Colorizing mechanism of brass surface by femtosecond laser induced microstructures

In this paper, we exhibit the colorizing of brass surfaces by forming femtosecond laser induced microstructures on the sample surfaces. A variety of single colors such as brown, yellow, green, and black are introduced on brass surfaces by engineering periodic microgratings, microholes, and ring-shaped micro-patterns using Single Beam Direct Laser Writing (SBDLW) technique. The color of the micro-structured brass surfaces is certainly dependent on the width, depth, and period of the microstructures. Finally, we explain, in brief, the colorizing mechanism of metals by femtosecond laser induced microstructures.     

The generation,detection and measurement of laser-induced carbon plasma ions and their implantation effects on brass substrate

The generation, detection and measurement of laser-induced carbon plasma ions and their implantation effects on brass substrate have been investigated. Thomson parabola technique was employed to measure the energy and flux of carbon ions. The magnetic field of strength 80?mT was applied on the graphite plasma plume to provide an appropriate trajectory to the generated ions. The energy of carbon ions is 678?KeV for laser fluence of 5.1?J/cm² which was kept constant for all exposures. The flux of ions varies from 32?×?10¹¹ to 72?×?10¹⁴?ions/cm² for varying numbers of laser pulses from 3000 to 12,000. In order to explore the ion irradiation effects on brass, four brass substrates were irradiated by carbon ions of different flux. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffractometer (XRD) are used to analyze the surface morphology and crystallographic structure of ion-implanted brass, respectively. SEM analysis reveals the formation and growth of nano-/micro-sized cavities, pores and pits for the various ion flux for varying numbers of laser pulses from 3000 to 12,000. By increasing ion flux by increasing the number of pulses up to 9000 shots, the dendritic structures initiate to grow along with cavities and pores. At the maximum ion flux for 12,000 shots, the unequiaxed dendritic structures become distinct and the distance between the dendrites is decreased, whereas cavities, pores and pits are completely finished. The XRD analysis reveals that a new phase of ZnC (0012) is formed in the brass substrate after ion implantation. Universal tensile testing machine and Vickers microhardness tester are used to explore the yield stress, ultimate tensile strength and microhardness of ion-implanted brass substrate. The mechanical properties monotonically increase by increasing the ion flux. Variations in mechanical properties are correlated with surface and structural modifications of brass.     

Nanoparticle preparation of quinacridone and β-carotene using near-infrared laser ablation of their crystals

Quinacridone nanoparticles with a mean size of about 200 nm are successfully prepared using nanosecond near-infrared (NIR) laser ablation of its microcrystalline powders in heavy water. The absorption spectra of the formed colloidal solutions depend on the excitation wavelengths, which is eventually ascribed to number and energy of absorbed photons. β-carotene has low photostability and is easily decomposed upon UV/VIS laser ablation of its solid, while its nanoparticles are prepared utilizing this NIR laser ablation technique. The advantage of nanoparticle preparation by NIR laser ablation is discussed.     

Creation of silicon nanocrystals using the laser ablation in liquid

The method for the formation of silicon nanoparticles by picosecond laser pulses is studied upon the surface irradiation of the single-crystal silicon in various liquids. The ablation products are investigated using the atomic-force microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The experimental results indicate the crystal-line structure of nanoparticles and the dependence of their size on the ablation medium.     

Effect of laser erosion on the copper and zinc concentrations in the surface layer of brass

A REMMA 102 scanning electron microscope equipped with semiconductor and wave spectrometers is applied to measure the copper and zinc concentrations in the surface layers of an M161 brass sample and the same sample subjected to a focused laser radiation. The results are compared with the results obtained with an MS3101 laser mass spectrometer having a laser-plasma ion source. The laser-assisted erosion of the surface layer in the brass is shown to significantly change the copper and zinc concentrations. It is found that, when the craters produced by laser pulses on the initial surface do not overlap, the copper and zinc contents in the laser-induced plasma correspond to their contents in the sample.     

Theoretical modeling of laser fragmentation of nanoparticles in liquid media

A physical model of metal nanoparticle fragmentation in liquid media upon exposure to femtosecond laser pulses is proposed by the example of gold nanoparticle fragmentation in water. The model is based on electrolyzing the metal nanoparticles heated by laser pulses and their fragmentation during development of the instability of charged liquid metal drops. The nanoparticle charge gained upon exposure to laser radiation in water is estimated and the nanoparticle fragmentation parameter is determined.     

Pressure of the products of the explosive decomposition of a mixture of pentaerythritol tetranitrate and nickel monocarbide nanoparticles initiated by laser radiation

Relative characteristics of the pressure created by the products of explosive decomposition of a mechanical mixture of pentaerythritol tetranitrate and nickel monocarbide (NiC) nanoparticles upon laser initiation are determined. It is demonstrated that the explosion of the mechanical mixture is caused by the absorption of laser radiation by NiC nanoparticles, a process accompanied by the heating and exothermic decomposition of NiC to the nickel and carbon phases, which, in turn, give rise to the formation of hotspots. The optimal concentration of NiC at which the maximum pressure of the explosion products is achieved is determined.     

Formation of solitons and realization of the superluminality effect upon femtosecond pulse propagation in a medium containing gold nanoparticles

Based on computer simulation, we demonstrate the possibility of formation of solitons upon propagation of a femtosecond laser pulse in a medium containing gold nanoparticles in the presence of two-photon light absorption. The solitons are formed when the laser pulse induces a positive phase grating. The speed of solitons substantially exceeds the speed of laser radiation propagating in a linear medium.     

Influence of ambient gas on formation process of Si nanoparticles by laser ablation

We described the influence of a type of gas and its pressure upon the size distribution of Si nanoparticles fabricated by laser ablation in an ambient gas and the plume dynamics during the synthesis. The plume dynamics was investigated by laser-induced fluorescence and ultraviolet Rayleigh scattering. Based on the results, the importance of the gas flow within the ablation plume in the formation of the nanoparticles is understood.     

采用激光光热透射技术测量材料的热扩散率

介绍利用激光光热透射技术测量材料热扩散率的方法，用该方法测量黄铜，纯铁、铝、纯铜及锗的热扩散率，其结果与能常采用的检测手段一致。     

Features of the surface morphology of brass and bronze upon irradiation with a high power ion beam

The change in the morphology and surface composition of copper alloys (brass LS 59-1, bronzes BrOS 10-10 and BrAJ 9-4) upon irradiation with a high power ion beam of nanosecond duration is studied. It is shown that craters are mainly formed at the location of lead or sulfur inclusions. The reverse deposition of zinc onto the surface of brass is found. Possible mechanisms of these phenomena are considered.     

The validity of commercial LIBS for quantitative analysis of brass alloy — comparison of WDXRF and AAS

Commercial low-cost laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) has been successfully employed for the quantitative analysis of a Cu-based alloy using a Nd:YAG laser at 1064 nm. The main aim of the present investigation is to explore the benefits of a commercial low-cost LIBS setup. It was recognized that some trace elements such as Al and S could not be detected by LIBS even with a high-resolution spectrometer. The main difficulties in quantifying Cu as a basic component of a brass alloy are related to the self-absorption of Cu spectral lines, with the effect complicated at Cu concentrations higher than 65%. However, few Cu lines such as that at 330.795 nm would be helpful to use due to their lower susceptibility to self-absorption. LIBS, flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS), and wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WDXRF) were compared for the detection of major and trace metals in the Cu-based alloy. In the case of WDXRF, the brass samples were identified by using a standardless quantitative analysis program depending on a fundamental parameter approach. The quantitative analysis results were acceptable for most of the major and minor elements of the brass sample. Therefore, commercial low cost LIBS would be useful for quantitative analysis of most elements in different types of alloys.     

Effect of deposition parameters on morphology and size of FeCo nanoparticles synthesized by pulsed laser ablation deposition

The experimental parameters that control the surface morphology and size of iron cobalt nanoparticles synthesized at room temperature by pulsed laser ablation deposition (PLAD) technique have been systematically investigated. The nanoparticle synthesis has been achieved at higher operating gas pressures of argon. It was found that nanoparticles upon deposition formed small clusters, the size of which increases with decreasing pressure, increasing laser-energy density, and decreasing target-to-substrate distance. This trend could be attributed to change in the kinetic energy of deposited nanoparticles with varying argon pressure, laser-energy, and target-to-substrate distance. The nanoparticles size and size distribution showed strong dependence on argon pressure and weak dependence on laser-energy density and target-to-substrate distance.     

A simple model of laser-induced fluorescence under arbitrary optical thickness conditions at the excitation wavelength

A simple model is worked out to investigate laser-induced fluorescence in media of arbitrary optical thicknesses at the excitation wavelength. Close-form expressions are obtained for laser fluence, absorbed energy density and emitted fluorescence signal as a function of optical thickness and incident laser fluence. It is shown that in optically thick media saturation curves are not proportional to density of the species excited by the laser, except at saturation, and that the saturation fluence increases with optical thickness. Experimental saturation curves of lead in laser-produced plasmas of brass are discussed in the light of this model.     

Calibration-free laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy for quantitative elemental analysis of materials

The application of calibration-free laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (CF-LIBS) for quantitative analysis of materials, illustrated by CF-LIBS applied to a brass sample of known composition, is presented in this paper. The LIBS plasma is produced by a 355?nm pulsed Nd:YAG laser with a pulse duration of 6?ns focussed onto a brass sample in air at atmospheric pressure. The time-resolved atomic and ionic emission lines of Cu and Zn from the LIBS spectra recorded by an Echelle spectrograph coupled with a gated intensified charge coupled detector are used for the plasma characterization and the quantitative analysis of the sample. The time delay where the plasma is optically thin and is also in local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE), necessary for the elemental analysis of samples from the LIBS spectra, is deduced. An algorithm relating the experimentally measured spectral intensity values with the basic physics of the plasma is developed. Using the algorithm, the Zn and Cu concentrations in the brass sample are determined. The analytical results obtained from the CF-LIBS technique agree well with the certified values of the elements in the sample, with an accuracy error <1%.     

AFM investigation of nanoparticles formed on silicon surface by femtosecond laser pulses

It is shown by atomic force microscopy that nanoparticles formed upon ablation of surface of single-crystal and porous silicon by femtosecond laser pulses have a lateral size from several tens to 200 nm and a height from 2 to 30 nm. Dependences of the nanoparticle sizes and surface concentrations on the residual pressure, which demonstrate the gas atmosphere influence on the nanoparticle formation, are obtained.