Fabrication of Palladium Nanoparticles by Laser Ablation in Liquid

Laser ablation of a palladium disc target immersed in heavy water or light water using second harmonic Nd:YAG laser was carried out to fabricate palladium nanoparticles. The properties of palladium nanoparticles ablated in heavy water or light water were investigated and compared. It is shown that liquid with smaller optical absorption coefficient improve the yield of nanoparticles. The transmission electron microscopy observation revealed that palladium nanoparticles with a diameter range from a few nm to several tens of nanometer were produced in light water while the average diameter of palladium nanoparticles produced in heavy water was smaller. Magnetic properties of palladium nanoparticles were also measured. M-H curves show palladium nanoparticles were superparamagnetic. Furthermore, laser ablation in heavy water or light water causes larger magnetic susceptibility than commercial palladium powder and plate.