Formation and properties of metal colloids and colloidal nano-alloys by laser ablation and irradiation of metals in liquids

We have successfully synthesized noble metal colloids by laser ablation of metal targets in liquids and Au/Ag colloidal nano-alloys with a wide range of compositions by a re-irradiation of mixed colloidal suspensions. Optical extinction spectra as well as electron microscopy data can give a clear picture of the structure and properties of the obtained particles, while an X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy is used for an estimation of the clusters' composition.