Effect of Laser Power on Yield of TiO2 Nanoparticles Synthesized by Pulsed Laser Ablation in Water

In this study, the pulsed laser ablation in liquids (PLAL) technique was used on titanium in deionized water at different laser powers to understand its effect on the synthesis yield of nanoparticles. A 500-ns 1062-nm fiber laser at 25 kHz was used to effect PLAL of titanium to produce nanoparticles. TEM images of the synthesized nanoparticles showed spherical particles ranging from 3 32 nm in diameter. The electron diffraction pattern and high peaks in the wide-angle x-ray scattering (WAXS) pattern indicated high crystallinity of nanoparticles. WAXS results showed nanoparticles were allotropes of titania: rutile and anatase. Synthesis yield measurements indicated an increase in yield with the increase in laser power as long as the increase in laser fluence remains proportional to the increase in laser power. However, the yield increased proportionally with the increase in laser fluence. The analysis of the chosen laser pulse duration and repetition rate showed an increase in the yield with longer pulse duration and higher repetition rate.