MAPLE deposition of nanomaterials

• Published in: Applied surface science Vol. 302; pp. 92 - 98
• Main Authors: Caricato, A.P., Arima, V., Catalano, M., Cesaria, M., Cozzoli, P.D., Martino, M., Taurino, A., Rella, R., Scarfiello, R., Tunno, T., A. Zacheo
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 30-05-2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Deposition; Exact sciences and technology; MAPLE; Nanoparticles; Nanorods; Physics; Thin films; Titania; Nanoparticles; Thin films; Titania; MAPLE; Nanorods; Deposition; Nanorod; Nanostructured materials
• ISSN: 0169-4332; 1873-5584
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2013.11.031

•The MAPLE deposition of nanoparticles and nanorods is reported.•MAPLE deposition of nanomaterials requires carful control of deposition parameters.•The influence of the deposition parameters on the physical mechanisms which govern the deposition process is discussed.
The matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE) has been recently exploited for depositing films of nanomaterials by combining the advantages of colloidal inorganic nanoparticles and laser-based techniques. MAPLE-deposition of nanomaterials meeting applicative purposes demands their peculiar properties to be taken into account while planning depositions to guarantee a congruent transfer (in terms of crystal structure and geometric features) and explain the deposition outcome. In particular, since nanofluids can enhance thermal conductivity with respect to conventional fluids, laser-induced heating can induce different ablation thermal regimes as compared to the MAPLE-treatment of soft materials. Moreover, nanoparticles exhibit lower melting temperatures and can experience pre-melting phenomena as compared to their bulk counterparts, which could easily induce shape and or crystal phase modification of the material to be deposited even at very low fluences. In this complex scenario, this review paper focuses on examples of MAPLE-depositions of size and shape controlled nanoparticles for different applications highlights advantages and challenges of the MAPLE-technique. The influence of the deposition parameters on the physical mechanisms which govern the deposition process is discussed.