Laser-Assisted Synthesis of Metals, Metal Oxide Nanoparticles, and Metal–Organic Frameworks (MOFs): Applications in Photocatalysis, Batteries, and Beyond

This chapter reviews the synthesis, properties, and applications of metal and metal oxide nanoparticles, as well as MOFs, produced using high-power lasers. The integration of MOFs and nanometals is further explored in cutting-edge applications including photocatalysis, gas sensing, supercapacitors, lithium-ion batteries, and solar energy conversion. Special attention is given to defect engineering, 3D laser printing of MOF composites, and emerging photothermal and optoelectronic functionalities. These techniques enable precise control over nanoparticle size, morphology, and composition, and significantly reduce reaction times for MOF formation. Our experimental results on laser ablation and the nanoparticle size distributions are provided in detail. For example, with a pulsed laser ablation energy of 70 mJ, the zinc oxide nanoparticle’s (ZnO NPs) size distribution produced an average nanoparticle size of 12.2 nm. Furthermore, the fast and scalable synthesis of MOFs employing laser irradiation techniques is extensively discussed for several uses in state-of-the-art technology. This work provides an explanation for high-power laser-induced rapid synthesis (LIRS) of Ni- and Zn-based MOFs achieved in a far shorter time and with higher yields than earlier reported techniques. Promising supercapacitor technologies, the chapter covers Cu-MOF/PANI- and Cu-MOF/PPy-based nanocomposites with high particular capacitance. The specific capacitance values are 160.5 F/g for Cu-MOF/PANI and 132.5 F/g for Cu-MOF/PPy nanocomposites, respectively. The activity of the Pt@UiO-66-NH2 MOF nanocomposite was discovered among the investigated to be 257.38 mmol g−1 h−1.