Pulsed Laser-Induced Nucleation of Sodium Chlorate at High Energy Densities

Abstract

We report on a study of laser-induced nucleation (LIN) of sodium chlorate in supersaturated aqueous solutions using focused nanosecond laser pulses at high energy densities (420 kJ cm -2 ). On irradiation with a single laser pulse, optical breakdown was observed in the form of a luminous plasma, and numerous microbubbles were produced. Based on the observations, we estimate the energy threshold for optical breakdown in the solutions to be 70 J cm -2 . Remarkably, even at high energy densities, single laser pulses produced on average only one or two crystals. The mean number of crystals obtained was 1.5 (532 nm) and 1.8 (1064 nm) per sample (3 cm 3 ). The effect of left circularly polarized (LCP) and right circularly polarized (RCP) light on the nucleation of dextrorotatory (d) versus levorotatory (l) enantiomorphs of cubic (phase I) sodium chlorate crystals was investigated. No significant correlation between the helicity of circular polarization and the chirality of enantiomorph was observed. The results are consistent with a mechanism involving nucleation of the achiral monoclinic phase III followed by solid-solid transformation to the chiral cubic phase I of sodium chlorate, although this transformation was not observed directly. The use of single-pulse LIN at high pulse energy densities may be useful in exploration of polymorphs, or in production of single crystals for analysis.

Influence of Laser Parameters and Experimental Conditions on Nonphotochemical Laser-Induced Nucleation of Glycine Polymorphs

“…Since then, a considerable number of studies have been reported with various types of chemical compounds and by employing an array of laser systems whose properties/parameters including time duration (continuous, femtosecond, picosecond, nanosecond regime), − field polarization (linear, circular and elliptical), − wavelength (UV–vis–IR), or intensity (ionizing, nonionizing), − were altered to control primary nucleation. However, despite the remarkable scientific progress, the underlying mechanism behind the laser-induced nucleation still remains unclear.…”

Plasmonic Manipulation of Sodium Chlorate Chiral Crystallization: Directed Chirality Transfer via Contact-Induced Polymorphic Transformation and Formation of Liquid Precursor

“…They succeeded in inducing forced crystallization from a supersaturated solution of urea by shooting a nanosecond near-infrared laser pulse into the solution. Since this first demonstration, the method has been extended to various systems, providing a variety of classifications and mechanisms such as the optical Kerr effect mechanism, , which contributes to the forced alignment of molecules in subcritical clusters by the electrical-field oscillation of an incident pulsed laser, and the cavitation bubble mechanism, − in which a femtosecond laser-induced cavitation bubble increases the local concentration of the solution at the bubble/solution interface. Although these mechanisms of crystallization controlled with pulsed lasers are not yet fully understood, the pulsed lasers have succeeded in the spatiotemporal control of nucleation, polymorph control by manipulating laser polarization, the crystallization of a macromolecule with an unknown structure, and the control of the crystal growth mode and the crystal shape of a growing crystal by introducing a dislocation in the crystal. , The research field of light-induced crystallization, which began with the irradiation of a nanosecond pulsed laser, is still being developed by changing the experimental conditions and the target phenomena, such as the pulse duration, wavelength of incident laser, compounds, nucleation, and crystal growth, leading to the creation of a practical method to induce crystallization from a supersaturated solution.…”

Crystallization of Polymorphic Sulfathiazole Controlled by Femtosecond Laser-Induced Cavitation Bubbles

“…It has been reported that the impurity of the solution has impact on the laser-induced nucleation results . These methods differ from the electromagnetic field-induced nucleation as they are independent of laser polarization. , Except for NPLIN, a focused high-power nanosecond laser can induce optical breakdown in solution and induce the nucleation of sodium chlorate . A femtosecond laser has been a useful tool in physical and chemical fields owing to its ultrashort pulse width and extremely high peak intensity .…”

“…11,23 Except for NPLIN, a focused high-power nanosecond laser can induce optical breakdown in solution and induce the nucleation of sodium chlorate. 24 A femtosecond laser has been a useful tool in physical and chemical fields owing to its ultrashort pulse width and extremely high peak intensity. 25 nanosecond laser, femtosecond laser pulses can be absorbed by transparent materials.…”