The Role of Laser Irradiance, Pulse Repetition Rate, and Liquid Media in the Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles by the Laser Ablation Method using an Nd:YAG Laser 1064 nm at Low Energy
Published at : 30 Oct 2019
Volume : IJtech
Vol 10, No 5 (2019)
DOI : https://doi.org/10.14716/ijtech.v10i5.1953
Khumaeni, A., Sutanto, H., Budi, W.S., 2019. The Role of Laser Irradiance, Pulse Repetition Rate, and Liquid Media in the Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles by the Laser Ablation Method using an Nd:YAG Laser 1064 nm at Low Energy. International Journal of Technology. Volume 10(5), pp. 961-969
| Ali Khumaeni | Department of Physics, Faculty of Science and Mathematics, Diponegoro University, Jl Prof. Soedharto, SH., Tembalang, Semarang 50275, Indonesia |
| Heri Sutanto | Department of Physics, Faculty of Science and Mathematics, Diponegoro University, Jl Prof. Soedharto, SH., Tembalang, Semarang 50275, Indonesia |
| Wahyu Setia Budi | Department of Physics, Faculty of Science and Mathematics, Diponegoro University, Jl Prof. Soedharto, SH., Tembalang, Semarang 50275, Indonesia |
The synthesis of gold
nanoparticles with high-purity and narrow size distribution is necessary for
applications in the medical field. However, it is difficult to achieve this
using chemical methods. In this study, the pulse laser ablation method using an
Nd:YAG laser operated at a low-energy of 30 mJ has been successfully employed
to produce gold nanoparticles with the required high purity and narrow size
distribution. The role of laser irradiance, laser pulse repetition rate, and
liquid media in the characteristics of the nanoparticles produced, such as shape
and size distribution, were examined. In the experiment, an Nd:YAG laser beam
(1064 nm, 7 ns) with a low energy of 30 mJ was irradiated on a high-purity gold
plate (99.95%) immersed in a liquid medium. The results demonstrate that the average particle diameter
and size distribution depended
on certain parameters of the laser irradiance, the pulse repetition rate and
the liquid medium used in the synthesis process. The diameters of the GNPs
increased from 6.5 to 12.3 nm when the
laser irradiance was increased from 12 to 20 GW/cm2. They
also increased from 12.3 to 20.7 nm when the
pulse repetition rate was increased from 10 to 15 Hz. In addition, the particle
diameters changed in line with different liquid media used; they were much
smaller for purified water (diameter of 12.3 nm) compared to ethanol (diameter of 15.0 nm). However, the shape of the GNPs was the
same for these parameters; the GNPs produced by the laser ablation method were
spherical. By understanding the effects of these parameters on the characteristics
of the GNPs produced by the laser ablation method using a low-energy Nd:YAG
laser, GNPs with specific characteristics, namely high purity and narrow size
distribution, can be synthesized for specific applications in the medical
field.
GNPs; Gold nanoparticles; Laser ablation method; Laser irradiance; Low energy Nd:YAG laser; Low energy of laser pulse; Pulse repetition rate
Many scientists and
researchers are interested in studying and developing nanoparticles (NPs) for
various applications due to their specific characteristics (Tran et al., 2013;
Khalil et al., 2017). For example, Adiwibowo et al. (2018) have successfully
produced stable ZnO nanoparticles for detergent applications. NPs have a minute
size, with a diameter of 1 to 100 nm. Recently, gold nanoparticles (GNPs) have
been produced for certain applications, such as sensors (Raj et al., 2003),
photonic devices (Parker & Townley, 2007), catalysts (Turner et al., 2008),
and medical applications (Giljohann et al., 2010). Due
to their specific properties,
Various methods
have been developed for the synthesis of GNPs, such as electrochemical
deposition, seeded growth, and vapor phase deposition (Rad et al., 2011).
However, in chemical methods, additional chemical constituents and stabilizer
agents are required during the production process, and therefore the GNPs
contain impurities from these. Furthermore, the chemical method produces
nanoparticles which have a wide size distribution. Production of high-purity
GNPs is necessary for applications in the medical field in order to ensure
human health. Therefore, alternative methods for their synthesis are necessary.
One such recent method used to produce GNPs is a green process using plants
(Aromal et al., 2012).
A physical method
based on a pulse laser has also been developed. This technique performs NP
synthesis in liquid, producing colloidal NPs (Giorgetti et al., 2012;
Semaltios, 2010). The metal NPs produced using this pulse laser ablation (PLA)
method have a high purity compared to those produced by conventional methods,
such as the chemical method (Al-Azawi & Bidin, 2015). These NPs are very suitable for specific
medical applications which require them to be of high purity, such as when used
as contrast agents, for drug delivery, and as radiosensitizers in, for example,
cancer and tumor therapy. The PLA method has been applied to the synthesis of
silver NPs (AgNPs) and GNPs. Many parameters and variables play important roles
in the characteristics of the NPs produced using the PLA method (Abbasi & Dorranian,
2015), including laser energy, laser pulse repetition rate, and the liquid
medium in which they are produced (Al-Nassar et al., 2015).
In this study, a pulse laser ablation
method using an Nd:YAG laser operated at a low-energy of 30 mJ was employed to
produce gold nanoparticles in liquid media. The effects of laser pulse
repetition rate, laser irradiance, and liquid media in the synthesis of
colloidal GNPs using a quiet low-energy Nd:YAG laser were examined to produce
nanoparticles with high purity and narrow size distribution. The experimental
results show that the gold nanoparticles produced had a much narrower size
distribution compared to those produced by the chemical method. Furthermore, the
GNPs also had high purity, which is required for applications in the medical
field.
This study was supported
financially by the Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education,
Indonesia under the Penelitian Terapan Unggulan Perguruan Tinggi project
(Contract No. 344-33/UN7.5.1/PP/2017 and 101-122/UN7.P4.3/PP/2018).
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