Nanoparticle-Composed Photosensitive Thin Films Based on ZnO.

In this work, atmospheric pulsed laser deposition was used to prepare photosensitive elements. This technology is a practical and relatively inexpensive way of obtaining highly porous nanostructures composed of nanoparticles or nanoaggregates characterized by a large surface-to-volume ratio. Samples were produced via laser nanosecond or picosecond laser ablation of pure ZnO or mixed ZnO-TiO targets on quartz substrates with pre-deposited gold electrodes.

Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy of Ammonium Nitrate Using Al Structures, Fabricated by Laser Processing of AlN Ceramic.

This work presents results on laser-induced surface structuring of AlN ceramic and its application in Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS). The laser processing is performed by nanosecond pulses in air and vacuum. Depending on the processing conditions, different surface morphology can be obtained.

Design of Laser Activated Antimicrobial Porous Tricalcium Phosphate-Hydroxyapatite Scaffolds for Orthopedic Applications.

The field of bone tissue engineering is steadily being improved by novel experimental approaches. Nevertheless, microbial adhesion after scaffold implantation remains a limitation that could lead to the impairment of the regeneration process, or scaffold rejection. The present study introduces a methodology that employs laser-based strategies for the development of antimicrobial interfaces on tricalcium phosphate-hydroxyapatite (TCP-HA) scaffolds.

Formation of Oriented Nanowires from Mixed Metal Oxides.

In this study, we present a physical method for the fabrication of oriented nanowires composed of mixed metal oxides. Pulsed laser deposition carried out in the air under atmospheric pressure was used for the production of samples. Two sets of experiments were performed by applying nanosecond and picosecond laser ablation, respectively.

Picosecond Pulsed Laser Deposition of Metals and Metal Oxides.

In this work, we present the fabrication of thin films/nanostructures of metals and metal oxides using picosecond laser ablation. Two sets of experiments were performed: the depositions were carried out in vacuum and in air at atmospheric pressure. The subjects of investigation were the noble metals Au and Pt and the metal oxides ZnO and TiO.

Au nanostructure fabrication by pulsed laser deposition in open air: Influence of the deposition geometry.

We present a fast and flexible method for the fabrication of Au nanocolumns. Au nanostructures were produced by pulsed laser deposition in air at atmospheric pressure. No impurities or Au compounds were detected in the resulting samples.

Properties of plasmonic arrays produced by pulsed-laser nanostructuring of thin Au films.

A brief description of research advances in the area of short-pulse-laser nanostructuring of thin Au films is followed by examples of experimental data and a discussion of our results on the characterization of structural and optical properties of gold nanostructures. These consist of partially spherical or spheroidal nanoparticles (NPs) which have a size distribution (80 ± 42 nm) and self-organization characterized by a short-distance order (length scale ≈140 nm). For the NP shapes produced, an observably broader tuning range (of about 150 nm) of the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band is obtained by renewal thin film deposition and laser annealing of the NP array.

Pulsed laser deposited ZnO film on side-polished fiber as a gas sensing element.

A simple sensor element consisting of a side-polished single-mode fiber and a planar metal oxide waveguide is described. The thin ZnO planar waveguide was produced on the polished fiber surface by pulsed laser deposition at optimized processing parameters. A measurement scheme for in situ control of the film thickness during the deposition process was developed and used.