Powder Technology, Vol.376, 104-112, 2020
Laser pyrolysis synthesis of zinc-containing nanomaterials using low-cost ultrasonic spray delivery of precursors
Laser pyrolysis employs a laser to selectively heat and decompose nanopartide precursors, inducing partide formation. While gaseous precursors are most common, liquid precursors would reduce cost and safety issues. Sufficiently volatile liquids can be delivered from a bubbler, but such precursors are unavailable for many metals. Spray-based delivery can accommodate both pure liquids and solutions of solid precursors. Here, we demonstrate low-cost ultrasonic spray delivery of precursor solutions for laser pyrolysis synthesis of zinc-containing nanomaterials. Using zinc acetate and thiourea produced nitrogen-doped Zn5 nanopartides in both wurtziteand sphalerite-rich phases, while sub-10 nm zinc sulfide and zinc oxide nanopartides were produced from zinc acetate and thioacetamide, or zinc acetate alone, respectively. Finally, we produced spherical and rod-like zinc fluoride nanoparticles under conditions where the photosensitizer, SF6, decomposes. These results demonstrate the potential of ultrasonic spray laser pyrolysis to produce materials of varied composition, crystal structure, and morphology. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.