Preparation of polyynes by laser ablation of graphite in aqueous media

Polyynes were prepared by liquid-phase laser ablation of a graphite target at 1064 nm and identified by analyzing UV absorption spectra in deionized water and various aqueous solutions. We observed that major UV absorption peaks coincide with the electronic transitions corresponding to linear hydrogen-capped polyynes (C_nH₂: n = 6, 8, 10). The peak intensities increased when polyynes were produced by irradiating the target immersed in acidic media, while those were relatively weak in basic media. This leads us to conclude that OH⁻ or H⁺ ions play a certain role in the formation of polyynes.