Pulsed laser ablation in liquid (PLAL) for nanoparticle generation

Abstract

Nanoparticles, broadly spherical pieces of material with diameters in the nanoscale range, \nhave a number of advantageous physical, chemical, electrical, and optical properties. These \nunique properties make them suitable for a wide range of applications including sensing, \nmedical therapeutics, printed electronics, and anti-fouling/anti-microbial surfaces. Pulsed \nlaser ablation in liquid (PLAL), also known as laser ablation synthesis in solution (LASIS), is \nan attractive, green method for producing ligand-free nanoparticles in solution. These \nnanoparticles can be produced from a wide range of target materials and avoids the use of \nhazardous, environmentally-unfriendly chemicals. In this chapter, the key applications, \nconventional generation methods of nanoparticles, as well as the background and cutting \nedge of PLAL are reviewed