The Water-Based Synthesis of Platinum Nanoparticles Using KrF Excimer Laser Ablation
Oana Andreea Lazăr, C. Moïse, A.S. Nikolov, Laura‐Bianca Enache, Geanina Mihai, Marius Enăchescu
Abstract
Our work presents, for the first time, a comprehensive study of the synthesis of fully metallic platinum nanoparticles (Pt-NPs) involving the ablation process in double distilled water using a KrF excimer laser. To obtain detailed information on Pt-NP morphology and optical properties, prepared colloids were characterized using High Resolution Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (HR-STEM) with advanced capabilities for Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis (EDX), UV/Vis optical spectroscopy, and Direct Analysis in Real Time—Mass Spectrometry (DART-MS). The influence of the applied laser fluence and laser repetition rate (RR) values on the characteristics of the obtained Pt-NPs and the ablation process, respectively, were also analyzed. Spherical and spherical-like nanoparticles exhibiting aggregation were produced. The Pt-NP mean size values were between 2.2 ± 1.2 nm and 4.0 ± 1.0 nm, while their interplanar distance measurements showed a face-centered cubic (FFC) Pt lattice (111), as revealed by HR–STEM measurements, for all investigated samples. The smallest mean size of 2.2 nm of the Pt-NPs was obtained using a 2.3 J cm−2 laser fluence at a 10 Hz RR, and the narrowest size distribution of the NPs was obtained with a 2.3 J cm−2 laser fluence at a 40 Hz RR. A linear dependence of the Pt-NP diameters versus the laser repetition rate was found at a constant fluence of 2.3 J cm−2. The proposed eco-friendly synthesis route of Pt-NPs, because of its relative simplicity, has the potential for use in industrial production.