Laser-induced nanowelding of gold nanoparticles

Picosecond laser pulses are employed to adjoin, to hold closely, and to weld gold nanoparticles on carbon-coated copper grids. Microscopic images and profiles indicate that gold particles are well connected showing single-phased nanocontact. Our results suggest that laser-induced nanowelding can be achieved in a programmed manner to produce ohmic contact by considering the size-dependent thermodynamic, dynamic, and kinetic properties of metallic nanometerials. (C) 2005 American Institute of Physics.