Coulomb explosion-induced formation of highly oriented nanoparticles on thin films of 3C–SiC by the femtosecond pulsed laser

We report the formation of highly oriented, uniform, and spherical nanoparticles of 3C–SiC as a result of Coulomb explosion during the interaction of near-infrared ultrafast laser pulses with 3C–SiC thin films grown on Si substrate. Experiments were performed at laser fluences well below the single shot, thermal modification threshold.