Nanocomposite fabrication via direct ultra-fast laser ablation of titanium in aqueous monomer solution

Abstract

A novel approach to fabricating nanocomposites comprising inorganic nanoparticles embedded in an organic matrix is presented. Ultra-fast laser ablation of a titanium metal target in aqueous ε-caprolactam monomer solution is used to produce ultra-small TiO 2 nanoparticles and to simultaneously initiate the polymerization of the monomer without the use of chemicals. The spectroscopic analysis and TEM studies reveal the formation of an organic matrix and its conjugation to the nanoparticles' surface. The laser beam induces the formation of TiO 2 nanoparticles, which subsequently act as photoinitiators of the polymerization of ε-caprolactam upon absorbing the photon energy provided by the unfocused part of the beam. This work can open new pathways for cost-effective and environmentally friendly nanocomposite production, in one step.

Serum Albumin Protein-Mediated Ultra-Fast Laser Synthesis of Calcium Phosphate Nanoceramic in Aqueous Solution

“…Compared to chemical synthesis, PLAL technique appears to be the most flexible and promising technique, because of its many advantages for biomedical applications. (i) PLAL does not necessarily require any chemicals and does not necessarily produce waste: it is defined "green" method [33]; (ii) one step functionalization is easy, since the functional molecules can be simply added to the colloidal solution [34][35][36]; (iii) PLAL technique allows the production of NPs on the gram scale per hour [37]. In this work, we report on the formation of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles by ultra-fast laser ablation of hydroxyapatite target in deionized water and in aqueous solution of biomolecule.…”