Laser synthesis of nanopowders

YSZ, YSZ + Al2O3, Ce0.78 Gd0.22O2−δ, and 5NdY2O3 nanopowders are obtained using target evaporation with a repetitively pulsed CO2 laser and subsequent vapor condensation in the flow of a carrier gas. The design of the laser complex for producing the nanopowder and the block diagram and the characteristics of the repetitively pulsed CO2 laser pumped by a combined discharge are presented. The size distribution of the nanoparticles is studied and the x-ray data are reported. It is demonstrated that a nanopowder output rate of 15–75 g/h linearly increases with the mean laser power. Under equal conditions, the size distribution of the particles is weakly affected by the type of the target material. The results obtained are interpreted.