Resonant Infrared and Ultraviolet Matrix-Assisted Pulsed Laser Evaporation of Titanium Oxide/Graphene Oxide Composites: A Comparative Study

Abstract

Pure titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) and graphene oxide (GO) as well as TiO 2 / GO composite structures were grown by matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE) in a controlled oxygen atmosphere. The MAPLE target dispersions were prepared using distilled water as solvent matrix, with TiO 2 nanoparticles (NPs) and GO platelets serving as host materials. Two laser sources, a free-running IR Er:YAG (λ = 2940 nm, τ fwhm ≅ 350 μs, ν = 10 Hz) and a UV KrF* excimer (λ = 248 nm, τ fwhm ≅ 25 ns, ν = 10 Hz) laser, were used for the transfer and immobilization experiments by infrared (IR)-and ultraviolet (UV)-MAPLE, respectively. The potential physical mechanisms implied in both the IR-and UV-MAPLE processes are discussed, based on numerical simulations of temperature evolution of the distilled water matrix, TiO 2 NPs, and GO platelets. Our results demonstrate the effectiveness of IR-and UV-MAPLE processes for the immobilization of nanoentities onto solid substrates. During IR-MAPLE, the laser radiation is primarily absorbed by the water matrix. The materials transferred to the substrate surface resemble the initial starting materials used for the preparation of the MAPLE target dispersions. Conversely, during UV-MAPLE the UV radiation is mainly absorbed by the nanoentities dispersed in the water matrix. The structural transformation of the nanoentities deposited by UV-MAPLE is significant as compared to the starting materials.

Structure-property relationships for Eu doped TiO2 thin films grown by a laser assisted technique from colloidal sols

“…16 Additionally, our previous results revealed that the lms' chemical composition and stoichiometry, and thus their functional, optical, electric, and catalytic properties can be easily adjusted through the MAPLE process parameters as the pressure as well as nature of the reactive gases in the irradiation chamber. [17][18][19][20] Moreover, in contracts to solvent-based chemical methods, laser technologies allow for the development of composites and multilayers bearing simultaneously various functionalities, as e.g. optical, catalytic, or magnetic properties.…”

One-step preparation of nitrogen doped titanium oxide/Au/reduced graphene oxide composite thin films for photocatalytic applications

“…MAPLE technique was applied during the last years for the immobilization of carbon nano-entities [20], SnO 2 [21] NPs, CdSe/ZnS core-shell quantum dots [22], TiO 2 nanorods [23], CNTs [24,25], GO platelets [26], and recently TiO 2 -rGO nanocomposites [27,28]. In this work TiO 2 and Au NPs, as well as GO platelets were used as base materials for the growth of TiO 2 , TiO 2 / Au / rGO, and nitrogen doped TiO 2 / Au / rGO composite thin films.…”

Laser-induced chemical transformation of graphene oxide–iron oxide nanoparticles composites deposited on polymer substrates

“…Thus, it is necessary to develop environmentfriendly methods for the preparation of these types of materials. Conversely, laser irradiation techniques have recently emerged as versatile, scalable, eco-friendly and easy ways for fabricating thin films composed of rGO-metal oxide nanostructures either by direct irradiation [20] or laser deposition [21,22] methods. Remarkably, the nature of ultraviolet pulsed laser radiation could lead to the attainment of new chemical pathways for the development of graphene-based nanocomposites with improved functionalities to be used in future devices.…”