Laser ablation of cobalt and cobalt oxides in liquids: influence of solvent on composition of prepared nanoparticles

Laser ablation of Co, CoO and Co3O4 was carried out in water and hexane. Nano-sized particles were produced from all materials in both solvents. It was found that atomic compositions of nanoparticles depended on solvent species in which laser ablation was carried out. In water, Co3O4 nanoparticles were produced from all materials. In hexane, Co nanoparticles were produced from Co3O4 and Co, while CoO particles were dominantly produced from CoO. (c) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.