Synthesis of Nanoparticles in a Pulsed-Periodic Gas Discharge and Their Potential Applications

Effects of Temperature on the Morphology and Optical Properties of Spark Discharge Germanium Nanoparticles

“…Thus, we suggest that luminescence is caused by surface states at the Ge/GeOx interface or by recombination in a thin germanium oxide layer. Similar conclusions were reached by a number of researchers working both with (1) germanium nanoparticles embedded in germanium oxide films [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ], observing luminescence in the range of 400 to 660 nm, and (2) studying colloidal synthesis of Ge/GeO 2 core-shell germanium nanoparticles; in that case they detected a weak luminescence peak at 500 nm [ 15 ]. The presence of oxygen in the samples with small particle size might be due to rapid oxidation of the particles’ surfaces during storage and while conducting experiments in air atmosphere.…”

“…Very few spherical crystal Ge particles that are much larger, up to 37 nm, are detected. The material represents the mean diameter of primary particles 6.8 ± 5.2 nm and follows a lognormal particle distribution ( Figure 2 a), typical for spark discharge processes [ 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ]. The same particle morphology was observed for the samples, prepared at 325 and 475 °C, with the mean primary particle sizes 10.4 ± 7.2 and 17.0 ± 10.3 nm, respectively.…”

“…Electrode material is evaporated in the environs of the spark, initiated by gas breakdown under high-power current impulses. The erosion produces atomic clusters, which agglomerate and form primary nanoparticles with a size of 5 to 8 nm [ 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 ]. As the primary nanoparticles move further along the gas path, they collide and stick together, forming fractal-like agglomerates ( Figure 2 a).…”

“…It is known that the synthesis of NPs by spark discharge [18] is the most promising method to produce nanoparticles for aerosol jet printing technology [19], with the goal to form microstructures for biomedical and optoelectronic applications. Since the spark discharge method allows control of the size, crystal structure, elemental composition and other physical properties of NPs, depending on synthesis conditions [20,21], it is a powerful technique for studying the photoluminescent characteristics of various materials, including nanoparticles of metals and semiconductors [18][19][20][21][22][23][24]. Therefore, a thorough knowledge of the optical properties of germanium nanoparticles produced by different methods is required to progress in microelectronics, biosensors development and further evolution of IR devices.…”

Synthesis of Nanoparticles by Spark Discharge as a Facile and Versatile Technique of Preparing Highly Conductive Pt Nano-Ink for Printed Electronics

“…It is known that the synthesis of nanoparticles using a spark discharge does not require the use of precursors, in contrast to the method of chemical reduction [ 38 , 39 , 40 ]. Spark discharge synthesis is a simple and versatile method for producing nanoparticles, since it requires only gas, electrodes, and electricity.…”