Synthesis of Ceramic Nanoparticles by Laser Vaporization (LAVA)

摘要

The selection of suitable raw materials and processes for their production are of increasing importance for the development of modern advanced ceramics. Structural ceramics, for example, require the use of very fine raw powders whereas functional ceramics require the most homogeneous distribution of dopants in the raw material. Here, we present a laser-induced gas phase condensation process to flexibly fabricate oxide-ceramic nanoparticles of different compositions and intraparticle structures. The Laser Vaporization (LAVA) process starts from coarse ceramic powders which are vaporized in the focus of a CO_2 laser beam. Subsequent rapid gas phase condensation yields spherical, crystalline, and merely softly agglomerated nanoparticles of the same chemical composition as the starting powder. The co-vaporization of raw powder mixtures enables the preparation of multiphase nanospheres in one single process step. Different phase compositions and morphological sub-structures can be obtained including doped solid solutions, nanocrystallites embedded in a glass matrix and intraparticular dispersions.