Laser Fabrication and Fragmentation of Selenium Nanoparticles in Aqueous Media

Abstract

The formation of selenium nanoparticles by laser ablation of its target in pure water and water containing biocompatible surfactants has been experimentally investigated. Experiments were performed using three different techniques: ablation in a stationary liquid, ablation in a continuous-flow cell, and laser fragmentation of the obtained mixture of selenium micro- and nanoparticles. The mass and size distribution functions of selenium nanoparticles were determined by sedimentation analysis. A production rate of 20mg min⁻¹ was implemented for selenium nanoparticles. These nanoparticles (less than 100 nm in diameter) were found to be amorphous.