Structure and Properties of Nanoparticles Fabricated by Laser Ablation of Bulk Metal Copper Targets in Water and Ethanol

Abstract

Colloidal solutions of nanoparticles (NPs) are prepared by nanosecond pulsed laser ablation (upon exposure to Nd:YAG laser radiation at a wavelength of 1064 nm with a pulse duration of 7 ns) of a copper target in water and ethyl alcohol. Their composition, structure, and optical properties are investigated. It is shown that monovalent Cu₂O NPs are mainly formed in water, whereas metal Cu NPs are mainly formed in ethanol. The nonlinear transmission of colloids at wavelengths of 532 and 1064 nm is investigated. It is established that they effectively limit the nanosecond laser pulse power at a wavelength of 532 nm.