Pilot-scale synthesis of metal nanoparticles by high-speed pulsed laser ablation in liquids

Scale-up production of nanomaterials by pulsed laser synthesis to grams per hour has been demonstrated.

“Scale-up production to grams per hour has been demonstrated, making it appropriate for industrial applications20–22.”

PLAL produces nanoparticles in a scale of tens to hundreds of milligrams.

“Meanwhile, PLAL produces NPs in a scale of tens to hundreds of milligrams, which has been extended achieving g h À1 productivities for other metallic 52 and ceramic NPs, 53 and with a record of 8 grams per hour for Pt NPs produced by Waag et al. 54 in 2021.”

Low productivity shortcomings in LAL have been almost entirely remedied, reaching NP production rates of several grams per hour.

“As reported by Streubel et al. [48], low productivity shortcomings in LAL have been almost entirely remedied, reaching NP production rates of several grams per hour.”

PLAL has achieved gram-per-hour productivities for some metallic and ceramic nanoparticles.

“Meanwhile, PLAL produces NPs in a scale of tens to hundreds of milligrams, which has been extended achieving g h À1 productivities for other metallic 52 and ceramic NPs, 53 and with a record of 8 grams per hour for Pt NPs produced by Waag et al. 54 in 2021.”

To achieve gram per hour productivity, approaches such as developing new types of chambers, bypassing the cavitation bubble, and reducing the liquid layer thickness have been sought.

“In order to achieve the gram per hour productivity, approaches such as developing new types of chambers, 74,[87][88][89] bypassing the cavitation bubble, 52,90 and reducing the liquid layer thickness, 88,91 have been sought.”

The productivity of LAL can be optimized by varying the flow velocity of the liquid.

“As demonstrated by Streubel et al. [48], the productivity of LAL can be optimized by varying the flow velocity of the liquid.”

In terms of absolute productivity as mass per unit time, the picosecond laser system supported by a 500 m/s scanning speed polygon scanner achieved the highest value compared to the nanosecond laser system.

“In terms of absolute productivity depicted as mass per unit time, (Fig. 4a), the picosecond laser system supported by the 500 m s À1 scanning speed polygon scanner 52 achieved the highest value compared to the nanosecond laser system.”

A flow-through chamber can extend PLAL without colloid concentration saturation and is only limited by target drilling, allowing processing times of several hours even for thin (1 mm) targets.

“An advantage of this chamber is the capacity to extend PLAL without a colloid concentration saturation and is only limited by the target drilling which allows processing times of several hours even for thin (1 mm) targets.52”

Gram-per-hour production rate of NPs has been achieved for different materials by increasing the interpulse distance and bypassing the cavitation bubble.

“Besides, the gram-perhour production rate of NPs has been achieved for different materials by increasing the interpulse distance and bypassing the cavitation bubble.[52][53][54]74,170”