We have used a combination of physical diagnostics methods (laser probe, absorption spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy) to study an aqueous suspension of silver nanoparticles, formed by laser ablation of a metal target in the atmosphere. We have established that application of the methods described allows us to obtain the most complete information about the state of nanosized metal particles in optically transparent media.Key words: aqueous suspension of metal nanoparticles, laser ablation, laser probe, absorption spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, surface plasmon resonance.
Introduction.A direction in science and technology that has been very much in demand in recent years is associated with preparation of nanostructural materials and their adoption in various areas of the national economy. The range of potential applications of such materials is quite broad: from pharmaceuticals to electronics. Such interest in nanotechnologies is due to the specific properties of nanostructures. The range of potential applications of such materials is quite broad: from pharmaceutical science to electronics. Such interest in nanotechnologies is due to the specific properties of nanostructures. For example, the mechanical, electrical, magnetic, optical, and chemical properties of many metals change substantially on going to nanostructures.Depending on the goals for obtaining the metal nanoparticles, very different methods can be used: chemical reduction of metals in solutions of their salts [1], implantation of metal ions in a matrix [2], electrical discharge (spark [3] and arc [4]) between metal electrodes in liquids, laser ablation in liquid media [5] and in the atmosphere [6]. Accordingly, adequate measurement of such a critical parameter as the effective sizes of the nanosized particles obtained becomes more important.This work was devoted to study of the possibility of combining existing methods for diagnostics of smallsized metallic systems with the goal of obtaining reliable information on the presence of metal nanoparticles and their sizes in optically transparent media. As the object of study, we used an aqueous suspension of silver nanoparticles obtained by laser ablation of the metal in the atmosphere by exposure to single pulses of high-power laser radiation in the frequency mode.The Experiment. Preparation of the suspensions of silver nanoparticles (laser ablation in the atmosphere). As we know, when a metal is exposed to laser radiation of moderate power density (10