Abstract
A diverse collection of nanomaterials may be obtained via laser irradiation and based on different chemical compositions ranging, for example, from simple metal nanoparticles, through larger assembled C nanostructures, to nearly 2D, highly ordered surface nanostructures. The preparation of the three latter types of nanomaterials entail the use of vastly different laser sources. For example, single wall C nanotubes may be obtained directly by CO2 (10.6 µm, cw) laser ablation of transition-rare earth metal doped graphite targets in the absence of oxygen in vacuo. Alternatively, the use of a NIR lasers under similar experimental conditions, yields preferentially other types of C nanostructures, such as C nanofoam, nano onions, etc. These may also be obtained by direct photothermal transformation of organic and organometallic compounds.
The use of a direct laser writing method, Laser Induced Reverse Transfer (LIRT or LAB-Laser Ablation Backwriting) enables, on the other hand, direct laser deposition of metal nanoparticles, or integration of thin, conductive metal films inside or on the surface of transparent substrates, respectfully.
Irradiation with ultrashort laser pulses enables, in addition, the controlled nanostructuring of surfaces and offer great potential to achieve large area nanostructured surfaces. This may pave the way to attractive functionalisation of surfaces, useful for the production of hydrophilic/hydrophobic, anti-stain, anti-corrosion and antibacterial products, as well as for the modification of electromagnetic properties.
This presentation will include an overview of how lasers with very different emission characteristics may be used to obtain functional nanomaterials based on photothermal and nonthermal physico-chemical phenomena, underlining those which are not yet well understood from the theoretical point of view.
About Xermán
Dr. Germán F. de la Fuente, Ph.D. in Chemistry is a Research Professor of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), working at the Institute for Nanoscience and Materials of Aragón (INMA)-CSIC-University of Zaragoza. He has specialised in developing surface coating and modification processing methods for ceramics, glasses, metals and C nanostructures. He has started the Laser Applications Laboratory at INMA about 30 years ago, developing Laser induced Zone Melting methods to control solidification and microstructure in both, Superconductor and Eutectic Ceramics. He later established facilities for Laser Ablation of materials with the objective of developing original, large-area surface and coatings fabrication methods on metals, alloys, ceramics and glass, in addition to C nanostructure preparative techniques based on laser irradiation of graphitic and molecular precursors.
His work has attracted attention from several industries, resulting in a large number of projects with Industrial partners at the local, national and European levels. He is the co-inventor of 12 patents, the coauthor of more than 190 scientific papers and has coordinated a large number of public and industrially funded projects based on the use of laser technology developed in his research group. With his extensive laser processing experience he has promoted the startup Laser Line Scanning S.L., and participates in two other startups related to Hydrogen production (HEKA Energies) and CO2 mitigation (CO2 Breakers).
