Short Pulse Laser Synthesis of Transition-Metal Dichalcogenide Nanostructures under Ambient Conditions

Abstract

The study of inorganic nanometer-scale materials with hollow closed-cage structures, such as inorganic fullerene-like (IF) nanostructures and inorganic nanotubes (INTs), is a rapidly growing field. Numerous kinds of IF nanostructures and INTs were synthesized for a variety of applications, particularly for lubrication, functional coatings, and reinforcement of polymer matrices. To date, such nanostructures have been synthesized mostly by heating a transition metal or oxide thereof in the presence of precursor gases, which are however toxic and hazardous. In this context, one frontier of research in this field is the development of new avenues for the green synthesis of IF structures and INTs, directly from the bulk of layered compounds. In the present work, we demonstrate a simple room-temperature and environmentally friendly approach for the synthesis of IF nanostructures and INTs via ultrashort-pulse laser ablation of a mixture of transition-metal dichalcogenides in bulk form mixed with Pb/PbO, in ambient air. The method can be considered as a synergy of photothermally and photochemically induced chemical transformations. The ultrafast-laser-induced excitation of the material, complemented with the formation of extended hot annealing regions in the presence of the metal catalyst, facilitates the formation of different nanostructures. Being fast, easy, and material-independent, our method offers new opportunities for the synthesis of IF nanostructures and INTs from different bulk metal chalcogenide compounds. On the basis of the capabilities of laser technology as well, this method could advantageously be further developed into a versatile tool for the simultaneous growth and patterning of such nanostructures in preselected positions for a variety of applications.

Metal Telluride Nanomaterials: Facile Synthesis, Properties and Applications for Third Generation Devices.

“…Two different areas are there to classify the laser ablation i. e. laser ablation in liquid (LAL) and laser ablation in a vacuum (LAV). In chemistry, particular interest is the possibility of producing nano‐dispersed materials by LAL and film materials by LAV . Laser fragmentation method has been used by Chubilleau and co‐workers, the impact of various parameters such as treatment period, wavelength and output energy were studied for the fragmentation yield, crystallographic structures and size of PbTe nanoparticles.…”

“…In chemistry, particular interest is the possibility of producing nano-dispersed materials by LAL and film materials by LAV. [107] Laser fragmentation method has been used by Chubilleau and co-workers, the 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 impact of various parameters such as treatment period, wavelength and output energy were studied for the fragmentation yield, crystallographic structures and size of PbTe nanoparticles. The average diameter for PbTe nanoparticles was 4-6 nm in liquid medium.…”

Laser Synthesis and Microfabrication of Micro/Nanostructured Materials Toward Energy Conversion and Storage

“…The laser annealing method is using laser as a heating source to promote the synthesis reaction between different precursor species. For instance, Tenne et al [87] creatively used ultrashort-pulse laser to process a mixture of bulk transition-metal dichalcogenides and Pb/PbO to fabricate [77]. i Illustration of the laser pyrolysis process of N-doped SnO 2 [74].…”

“…The laser annealing method is using laser as a heating source to promote the synthesis reaction between different precursor species. For instance, Tenne et al [ 87 ] creatively used ultrashort-pulse laser to process a mixture of bulk transition-metal dichalcogenides and Pb/PbO to fabricate inorganic fullerene-like and nanotube-like TMDs nanostructures, the catalytic effects of metal assisted with the ultrafast laser-induced thermal annealing contributed to the formation of different TMDs nanostructures. Lamberti et al [ 88 ] reported rapid one-pot synthesis of MoS 2 -decorated laser-induced graphene (MoS 2 -LIG) by direct writing of polyimide foils coating with a layer of MoS 2 dispersion.…”

Pulsed laser deposition of the LaVO4:Eu, Ca nanoparticles on glass and silicon substrates

“…This method doesn't require nor any matrices for dispersion of nanorarticles like a polymeric (silicon) matrix for the YAG:Ce particles used in WLEDs neither heavy metal solvents as in liquid phase epitaxy method. Also the PLD method doesn't need high temperatures and additional chemical reagents for synthesis (Savva et al, 2017). All these factors can effect on luminescent efficiency of the RE-activated nanoparticles.…”