Elucidating Strong Field Photochemical Reduction Mechanisms of Aqueous [AuCl4](-): Kinetics of Multiphoton Photolysis and Radical-Mediated Reduction

Mechanisms of controlled stabilizer-free synthesis of gold nanoparticles in liquid aerosol containing plasma

The interaction between low-temperature plasma and liquid enables highly reactive solution phase chemistry and fast reaction kinetics. In this work, we demonstrate the rapid synthesis of stabilizer-free, spherical and crystalline gold nanoparticles (AuNP). More than 70% of gold ion complex (AuCl- 4) conversion is achieved within a droplet residence time in the plasma of ∼10 ms. The average size of the AuNPs increases with an increase in the droplet residence time and the particle synthesis showed a power threshold effect suggesting the applicability of the classical nucleation theory. Leveraging UV-vis absorption and emission spectroscopy, and nanoparticle size distributions obtained from TEM measurements, we showed that the AuCl- 4 conversion exceeded by 250 times the maximum faradaic efficiency. We identified important roles of both short-lived reducing species including solvated electrons and possibly vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) photons, and long-lived species, H2O2, in the reduction of AuCl- 4. A quantitative investigation was performed by a 1-D reaction-diffusion model which includes transport, plasma-enabled interfacial reduction of AuCl- 4, classical nucleation, monomer absorption and autocatalytic surface growth enabled by H2O2. The model shows good agreement with the experimental results. The timescale analysis of the simulation revealed that nucleation is enabled by fast reduction of gold ions, and autocatalytic growth mainly determines the particle size and is responsible for the majority of the ion precursor conversion while also explaining the excessively large faradaic efficiency found experimentally.

Tuning size and shape of gold nanoparticles using seed-mediated growth by unfocused femtosecond laser-induced plasma

Gold nanoparticles with tunable size and shape are effectively synthesized with a femtosecond laser using the seed and growth method by reducing a KAuCl₄ solution with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) surfactant as a stabilizer. The sizes of gold nanoparticles, including 7.30 to 9.90, 11.0, 12.0, 14.1, 17.3, 22, 23.0, 24.4, and 27.2 nm, are effectively altered. In addition, the initial shapes of gold nanoparticles (quasi-spherical, triangular, and nanoplate) are also successfully changed. While the reduction effect of an unfocused femtosecond laser can control the size of nanoparticles, the surfactant can influence the growth of nanoparticles and determine their shape. This technology represents a breakthrough for nanoparticle development by not employing strong reducing agents and instead using an environmentally friendly synthesis technique.

Deposition of Cubic Copper Nanoparticles on Silicon Laser-Induced Periodic Surface Structures via Reactive Laser Ablation in Liquid

We report the deposition of cubic copper nanoparticles (Cu NPs) of varying size and particle density on silicon laser-induced periodic surface structures via reactive laser ablation in liquid (RLAL) using intense femtosecond laser pulses. Two syntheses were compared: (1) simultaneous deposition, wherein a silicon wafer was laser-processed in aqueous Cu(NO₃)₂ solution and (2) sequential deposition, wherein the silicon wafer was laser-processed in water and then exposed to aqueous Cu(NO₃)₂. Only simultaneous deposition resulted in high Cu loading and cubic Cu NPs deposited on the surface. The solution pH, Cu(NO₃)₂ concentration, and sample translation rate were varied to determine their effects on the size, morphology, and density of Cu NPs. Solution pH near ∼6.8 maximized Cu deposition. The Cu(NO₃)₂ concentration affected the Cu NP morphology but not the size or Cu loading. The sample translation rate most significantly affected the Cu loading, particle size, and particle density. The observed synthesis parameter dependence of these Cu NP properties resembles results by electrodeposition to grow Cu NPs on silicon surfaces, which suggests that Cu NP deposition by RLAL follows a mechanism similar to electrodeposition.

Mechanism of Gold-Silver Alloy Nanoparticle Formation by Laser Coreduction of Gold and Silver Ions in Solution

Photochemical reduction of aqueous Ag⁺ and [AuCl₄]^- into alloy Au-Ag nanoparticles (Au-Ag NPs) with intense laser pulses is a green synthesis approach that requires no toxic chemical reducing agents or stabilizers; however size control without capping agents still remains a challenge. Hydrated electrons produced in the laser plasma can reduce both [AuCl₄]^- and Ag⁺ to form NPs, but hydroxyl radicals (OH·) in the plasma inhibit Ag NP formation by promoting the back-oxidation of Ag⁰ into Ag⁺. In this work, femtosecond laser reduction is used to synthesize Au-Ag NPs with controlled compositions by adding the OH· scavenger isopropyl alcohol (IPA) to precursor solutions containing KAuCl₄ and AgClO₄. With sufficient IPA concentration, varying the precursor ratio enabled control over the Au-Ag NP composition and produced alloy NPs with average sizes less than 10 nm and homogeneous molar compositions of Au and Ag. By investigating the kinetics of Ag⁺ and [AuCl₄]^- coreduction, we find that the reduction of [AuCl₄]^- into Au-Ag NPs occurs before most of the Ag⁺ is incorporated, giving us insight into the mechanism of Au-Ag NP formation.

Gold Nanoparticle Formation via X-ray Radiolysis Investigated with Time-Resolved X-ray Liquidography

We report the generation of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) from the aqueous solution of chloro(2,2',2″-terpyridine)gold(III) ion ([Au(tpy)Cl]²⁺) through X-ray radiolysis and optical excitation at a synchrotron. The original purpose of the experiment was to investigate the photoinduced structural changes of [Au(tpy)Cl]²⁺ upon 400 nm excitation using time-resolved X-ray liquidography (TRXL). Initially, the TRXL data did not show any signal that would suggest structural changes of the solute molecule, but after an induction time, the TRXL data started to show sharp peaks and valleys. In the early phase, AuNPs with two types of morphology, dendrites, and spheres, were formed by the reducing action of hydrated electrons generated by the X-ray radiolysis of water, thereby allowing the detection of TRXL data due to the laser-induced lattice expansion and relaxation of AuNPs. Along with the lattice expansion, the dendritic and spherical AuNPs were transformed into smaller, raspberry-shaped AuNPs of a relatively uniform size via ablation by the optical femtosecond laser pulse used for the TRXL experiment. Density functional theory calculations confirm that the reduction potential of the metal complex relative to the hydration potential of X-ray-generated electrons determines the facile AuNP formation observed for [Au(tpy)Cl]²⁺.

Fabrication of Gold-Silicon Nanostructured Surfaces with Reactive Laser Ablation in Liquid

Laser processing is an emerging technique capable of synthesizing metal-silicon composite surfaces for various applications. However, little is known about the chemical composition of these laser-processed surfaces, and the reaction mechanisms leading to their formation are poorly understood. In this work, we report the formation of gold-silicon nanostructured surfaces through reactive laser ablation in liquid. Silicon wafers were immersed in pH-controlled solutions of KAuCl₄ and processed with ultrashort laser pulses. Gold deposition on the silicon wafers was found to depend on the pH of the precursor solution: neutral solutions (pH ∼6.3) resulted in much higher gold deposition than acidic or basic solutions. Laser processing of silicon wafers in water followed by immersion in the KAuCl₄ solution resulted in lower gold deposition. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and depth profiling showed the existence of both gold (Au⁰) and gold-silicide (Au_xSi) phases on the surfaces. Under both types of processing conditions, the gold atomic fraction and gold-silicide content increased with depth to at least 150 nm into the surface of the silicon wafer, although significantly more gold and gold-silicide were formed when the silicon was ablated in KAuCl₄ solution as compared to immersion in KAuCl₄ after ablation in water. Based on these data and existing literature on laser processing of silicon, we propose mechanisms that explain the observed gold penetration depth and its deposition dependence on solution pH. The mechanistic understanding gained in this work may be useful for synthesizing a variety of metal-silicon composite surfaces through laser processing to prepare functional materials such as catalysts and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy substrates.

Atmospheric-Pressure Pulsed Discharge Plasma in a Slug Flow Reactor System for the Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles

Gold nanoparticle (AuNP) formation by applying pulsed discharge plasma in the slug flow reactor system was demonstrated. Experiments were carried out continuously at room temperature. The argon gas as a gas phase and the hydrogen tetrachloroaurate(III) tetra hydrate solution containing lysine as a liquid phase simultaneously flowed in the slug flow reactor system. The flow rates of the feed solution and argon gas were kept at 1.5 and 0.2 mL/min, respectively. To generate discharge plasma, the AC power supply with a bipolar pulsed output at 10 kV was applied. The purple color solution product was obtained, and the ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectrophotometer showed that this possessed the absorption light from 510 to 550 nm associated with the existence of gold nanoparticles in each collected sample. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that the lysine-capped AuNPs were produced in a spherical morphology and dispersed in aqueous solution products with a diameter of less than 20 nm.

Synthesis of Single-Nanometer-Sized Gold Nanoparticles in Liquid-Liquid Dispersion System by Femtosecond Laser Irradiation

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) show unique optical properties and catalytic activities, and their synthesis from gold ions has been widely studied. One of the additive-reagent-free and noncontact production procedures is the reduction of gold ions in solution by femtosecond laser pulses; however, the aggregation of AuNPs is unavoidable in homogeneous solution. Here, we report the synthesis of single-nanometer-sized AuNPs in a mixture of aqueous HAuCl₄ solution and n-hexane (the mixture) and in aqueous HAuCl₄ solution (the aqueous solution) by femtosecond laser irradiation in the absence of any additive reagents. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that circlelike colonies consisting of well-separated AuNPs were obtained from the mixture, while highly stacked and agglomerated AuNPs were obtained from the aqueous solution. The mean size of AuNPs in the mixture was nearly independent of the laser irradiation time, whereas that obtained in aqueous solution was gradually shifted to smaller size by laser irradiation period. We propose that the adsorption of primary AuNPs on the surface of hexane microdroplets and the fragmentation of large AuNPs in water by successive laser pulses retain single-nanometer-sized AuNPs in the mixture. The use of liquid-liquid interface on hexane microdroplets in aqueous solution provides a simple and useful environment to synthesize small AuNPs without the aid of surfactants or capping agents.

Formation of Copper(I) Oxide- and Copper(I) Cyanide-Polyacetonitrile Nanocomposites through Strong-Field Laser Processing of Acetonitrile Solutions of Copper(II) Acetate Dimer

Irradiation studies of acetonitrile solutions of copper(II) acetate dimer ([Cu(OAc)₂]₂) using high energy, simultaneously spatially and temporally focused (SSTF) ultrashort laser pulses are reported. Under ambient conditions, irradiation for relatively short periods of time (10-20 s) selectively produces relatively small, narrowly size-dispersed (3.5 ± 0.7 nm) copper(I) oxide nanoparticles (Cu₂O NPs) embedded in CuCN-polyacetonitrile polymers generated in situ by the laser. The Cu₂O NPs become embedded in a CuCN-polyacetonitrile network as they form, stabilizing them and protecting the air-sensitive material from oxygen. Laser irradiation of acetonitrile causes fragmentation into transient radicals that initiate and terminate polymerization of acetonitrile. Control and mechanistic investigations reveal that HCN formed during laser irradiation reacts rapidly to reduce the Cu(II) centers in [Cu(OAc)₂]₂, leading to the formation of CuCN or, in the presence of water, Cu₂O nanoparticles that bind and cross-link CuCN-polyacetonitrile chains. The acetate-bridged Cu(II) dimer unit is a required structural feature that functions to preorganize and direct the Cu(II) reduction and selective formation of CuCN and Cu₂O nanoparticles. This study illustrates how rapid deposition of energy using shaped, ultrashort laser pulses can initiate multiple photolytic and thermal processes that lead to the selective formation of composite nanoparticle/polymer materials for applications in electronics and catalysis.

The Effect of Gold Nanoparticle Concentration and Laser Fluence on the Laser-Induced Water Decomposition

This Article covers the influence of the concentration of gold nanoparticles on laser-induced water decomposition. It was established that addition of gold nanoparticles intensifies laser-induced water decomposition by almost 2 orders of magnitude. The water decomposition rate was shown to be maximal at a nanoparticle concentration around 10¹⁰ NP/mL, whereas a decrease or increase of nanoparticle concentration leads to a decrease of water decomposition rate. It was demonstrated that, if the concentration of nanoparticles in water-based colloid was less than 10¹⁰ NP/mL, laser irradiation of the colloid caused formation of molecular hydrogen, hydrogen peroxide, and molecular oxygen. If the concentration of nanoparticles exceeded 10¹¹ NP/mL, only two products, molecular hydrogen and hydrogen peroxide, were formed. Correlations between the water decomposition rate and the main optical and acoustic parameters of optical breakdown-generated plasma were investigated. Variants of laser-induced decomposition of colloidal solutions of nanoparticles based on organic solvents (ethanol, propanol-2, butanol-2, diethyl ether) were also analyzed.

Nucleation and growth of gold nanoparticles initiated by nanosecond and femtosecond laser irradiation of aqueous [AuCl4]. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2018;20:28465-28475. [PMID: 30411753 PMCID: PMC6310131 DOI: 10.1039/c8cp05774e]

Irradiation of aqueous [AuCl4]- with 532 nm nanosecond (ns) laser pulses produces monodisperse (PDI = 0.04) 5 nm Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) without any additives or capping agents via a plasmon-enhanced photothermal autocatalytic mechanism. Compared with 800 nm femtosecond (fs) laser pulses, the AuNP growth kinetics under ns laser irradiation follow the same autocatalytic rate law, but with a significantly lower sensitivity to laser pulse energy. The results are explained using a simple model for simulating heat transfer in liquid water and at the interface with AuNPs. While the extent of water superheating with the ns laser is smaller compared to the fs laser, its significantly longer duration can provide sufficient energy to dissociate a small fraction of the [AuCl4]- present, resulting in the formation of AuNPs by coalescence of the resulting Au atoms. Irradiation of initially formed AuNPs at 532 nm results in plasmon-enhanced superheating of water, which greatly accelerates the rate of thermal dissociation of [AuCl4]- and accounts for the observed autocatalytic kinetics. The plasmon-enhanced heating under ns laser irradiation fragments the AuNPs and results in nearly uniform 5 nm particles, while the lack of particles' heating under fs laser irradiation results in the growth of the particles as large as 40 nm.

Tuning the size of gold nanoparticles produced by multiple filamentation of femtosecond laser pulses in aqueous solutions

In the present study, we consider the self-regulated generation of spatially homogeneous low density plasma (LDP) micro-channels as a high intensity ionization source arising from the multi-filamentation of powerful femtosecond (fs) laser pulses in aqueous solutions. We investigate the modulation of the femtosecond laser multiple filamentation for tuning the size of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) synthesized in an irradiated gold chloride solution. Previous studies on the radiation-induced synthesis of colloidal gold by more conventional ionization sources, such as high energy γ-rays and electron beams, highlighted the dependence of the size distribution of AuNPs on the density of energy deposited per unit of time, i.e. the dose rate. The present method of laser-induced production of AuNPs rests on a similar radiation-assisted process, i.e. the reduction of the solvated trivalent gold ions by the hydrated electrons produced upon ionization of water. We find that trivial optical manipulation varies the rate of deposited energy by laser irradiation, which can be considered equivalent to a variation of the dose rate. We investigate the influence of varying the density of energy deposited on the laser-induced gold cluster size distribution and made a comparison with the high energy radiation-induced synthesis of AuNPs. Here, our results highlight that the present method of laser irradiation, in the regime of LDP generation, mimics the radiolysis of water at an adjustable high dose rate. More generally, these spatially and temporally resolved plasmas could be developed as a tool for the unprecedented control of chemistry under ionizing radiation.

Radical Chemistry in a Femtosecond Laser Plasma: Photochemical Reduction of Ag⁺ in Liquid Ammonia Solution

Plasmas with dense concentrations of reactive species such as hydrated electrons and hydroxyl radicals are generated from focusing intense femtosecond laser pulses into aqueous media. These radical species can reduce metal ions such as Au³⁺ to form metal nanoparticles (NPs). However, the formation of H₂O₂ by the recombination of hydroxyl radicals inhibits the reduction of Ag⁺ through back-oxidation. This work has explored the control of hydroxyl radical chemistry in a femtosecond laser-generated plasma through the addition of liquid ammonia. The irradiation of liquid ammonia solutions resulted in a reaction between NH₃ and OH·, forming peroxynitrite and ONOO^-, and significantly reducing the amount of H₂O₂ generated. Varying the liquid ammonia concentration controlled the Ag⁺ reduction rate, forming 12.7 ± 4.9 nm silver nanoparticles at the optimal ammonia concentration. The photochemical mechanisms underlying peroxynitrite formation and Ag⁺ reduction are discussed.

Dense ionization and subsequent non-homogeneous radical-mediated chemistry of femtosecond laser-induced low density plasma in aqueous solutions: synthesis of colloidal gold

The "cold" low density plasma channels generated by the filamentation of powerful femtosecond laser pulses in aqueous solutions constitute a source of dense ionization. Here, we probed the radiation-assisted chemistry of water triggered by laser ionization via the radical-mediated synthesis of nanoparticles in gold chloride aqueous solutions. We showed that the formation of colloidal gold originates from the reduction of trivalent ionic gold initially present in solution by the reactive radicals (e.g. hydrated electrons) produced upon the photolysis of water. We analyzed both the reaction kinetics of the laser-induced hydrated electrons and the growth kinetics of the gold nanoparticles. Introduction of radical scavengers into the solutions and different initial concentrations of gold chloride provided information about the radical-mediated chemistry. The dense ionization results in the second order cross-recombination of the photolysis primary byproducts. Competition with recombination imposes the non-homogeneous interaction of reactive radicals with solute present in irradiated aqueous solutions. Such a laser-induced non-homogeneous chemistry suggests similarities with the radiation chemistry of water exposed to conventional densely ionizing radiation (high dose rate, high linear energy transfer).

Gold Nanotriangle Formation through Strong-Field Laser Processing of Aqueous KAuCl4 and Postirradiation Reduction by Hydrogen Peroxide

Femtosecond laser irradiation of aqueous KAuCl₄ followed by postirradiation reduction with hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) is investigated as a new approach for the synthesis of gold nanotriangles (AuNTs) without any added surfactant molecules. Laser irradiation was applied for times ranging from 5 to 240 s, and postirradiation reduction of the solutions was monitored by UV-vis spectroscopy. Laser processing of aqueous KAuCl₄ for 240 s, where the full reduction of Au(III) occurred during irradiation, produced spherical gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with an average size of 11.4 ± 3.4 nm. Irradiation for shorter times (i.e., 15 s) resulted in the formation of laser-generated AuNP seeds (5.7 ± 1.8 nm) in equilibrium with unreacted KAuCl₄ after termination of laser irradiation. The postirradiation reduction of these solutions by H₂O₂ produced a mixture of spherical and triangular AuNPs. Decreasing the laser irradiation time from 45 to 5 s significantly reduced the number of laser-generated Au seeds, the amount of H₂O₂ produced, and the rate of postirradiation reduction, resulting in the formation of a large number of AuNTs with sizes increasing from 29.5 ± 10.2 to 125 ± 43.2 nm. Postirradiation reduction is kinetically inhibited in the absence of laser-generated AuNP seeds.