Laser-induced agglomeration of gold and silver nanoparticles dispersed in liquid

Evolution of size distribution function, morphology, and extinction spectra of Ag nanoparticles and Au-Ag nanoparticles mixture dispersed in liquids under picosecond laser exposure are experimentally studied. It is shown that picosecond laser exposure of dense aqueous solutions of NPs (above 10(14) particles perml) leads to formation of elongated agglomerates. Time dependence of the size distribution function is monitored during irradiation process and compared to optical spectra and Transmission Electron Microscope images. Exposure of Au-Ag nanoparticles mixture is shown to result in formation of NPs chains consisting of Au and Ag, or Au-Ag alloy NPs. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.