Synthesis of Oxide Nanoparticles by Pulsed Laser Ablation in Liquids Containing a Complexing Molecule: Impact on Size Distributions and Prepared Phases

We performed laser ablation of doped oxides, Y2O3:Eu3+, Gd2O3:Eu3+, and Y3Al5O12:Ce3+ (YAG:Ce), in an aqueous solution of 2-[2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethoxy]acetic acid (MEEAA). Nanoparticles are produced and characterized using electron microscopy and luminescence spectroscopy. We show that the polyether chain ensures the stabilization of the objects formed in aqueous medium while the complexing group limits their size and sharpens the size distribution. The nanoparticles produced from the sesquioxide targets are in a cubic disordered phase as expected for very small particles. The ablation of the YAG target leads to a majority of alpha-Al2O3 and YAG nanoparticles and a minority of YAlO3 nanoparticles. Infrared spectroscopy is used to characterize the nature of the complex formed between the ligand and the particle surface. We demonstrate that the coordination mode of the carboxylate (-COO-) group to metal ions of the nanoparticles' surface is the bridging bidentate mode.