On-Line Characterization of Gold Nanoparticles Generated by Laser Ablation in Liquids

Size of nanoparticles is an important parameter for their applications. To develop the system for the on-line nanoparticle characterization during their production by a laser, the laser ablation chamber that allows measurement of the surface plasmon resonance spectra during nanoparticle generation process has been designed and fabricated. The mean diameter of nanoparticles was determined using their absorption spectra acquired in the real-time during the ablation experiments. The results were compared with the TEM images analysis and observed differences in size are discussed. The technique was applied to investigate the effect of additional laser irradiation on size distribution in gold colloids prepared by laser ablation in water and in aqueous glucose solution.