Analysis and optimization of silver nanoparticles laser synthesis with emission spectroscopy of induced plasma.

Emission spectroscopy of the laser induced plasma is used to characterize the laser synthesis of silver nanoparticles in water via attributing the thermodynamic parameters of the plasma plume to qualitative features of the synthesized nanoparticles. In this approach, effects of the pulse energy and frequency of a pulsedNd:YAGlaser on nanoparticles synthesis yield and size distribution is studied by an analysis on the behavior of electron temperature and total density of the plasma dominant species (neutral Ag atoms; AgI). Variation of these thermodynamic parameters obtained from the time-integrated emission spectroscopy of the induced plasma was found to be in a closed correlation with the mentioned characteristics of the synthesized nanoparticles. Assessment of the qualitative features of nanoparticles was performed by evaluating the particles concentration in liquid, optical absorption spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Finally, the optimum operating conditions for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles in pure water is determined by summarizing the results of emission spectroscopy observations attributed to the mentioned characteristics of synthesized nanoparticles.