Gold nanostructures deposition by laser ablation in air using nano- and femtosecond laser pulses

This work demonstrates nanostructures deposition using nanosecond and femtosecond laser ablation in air. The laser parameters correspond the most common laser systems—Nd:YAG, operated at 1064 and 532 nm and Ti:Sapphire at 800 nm. In the case of nanosecond pulses, the deposited material forms a complex structure that is composed by microsized droplets and nanoparticles with a narrow size distribution. The structure composed of nanoparticles expresses different features for the IR and visible laser radiation. Laser ablation at 532 nm is found to be more efficient as it leads to formation of complex 3D highly porous nanostructures. Femtosecond laser ablation in air results in deposition of nanoparticle aggregates with a broad nanoparticle size distribution. The performed analyses on the structure and chemical composition of the deposited material indicate that no oxide and nitride compounds of gold are formed. The presented results demonstrate the basic characteristics of a method for direct deposition of nanostructured material in open air that can find application in fabrication of sensor devices, in catalysis and plasmonics.