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Preparation of Ceramic Nanoparticles by CO₂ Laser Vaporization

H.-D. Kurland, J. Grabow, Chr. Stötzel, F.A. Müller

Journal of Ceramic Science and Technology, Vol. 5, No. 4 (2014), pp. 275-280

DOI: 10.4416/JCST2014-00025

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Abstract

Functional ceramic nanopowders are prepared by means of CO2 laser vaporization (LAVA) starting from coarse ceramic powders. The vaporization proceeds in a continuously flowing process gas at normal pressure. The nanoparticles (NP) are formed as a result of rapid gas phase condensation. Selected LAVA nanopowders are presented as promising candidates for future applications, e.g. drug targeting and magnetic resonance imaging, load-bearing ceramic implants, and biological fluorescence labeling, respectively. Starting from a hematite raw powder, ferrimagnetic Fe2O3 nanopowders are prepared. It is found that in an oxygen-free process gas maghemite (γ-Fe2O3) NP are formed. Applying oxygen as process gas leads to the formation of γ- and ε- Fe2O3 NP. Superparamagnetic composite NP are prepared from mixtures of hematite raw powder and quartz sand (SiO2). NP comprising an intraparticular dispersion of alumina and tetragonal zirconia (t-ZrO2) are obtained by means of the vaporization of a powder mixture of corundum (α-Al2O3) as the main component and t-ZrO2. Europium-doped strontium aluminate (SrAl2O4) NP are prepared from a mixture of strontia (SrO), corundum, and Eu2O3. The as-prepared amorphous NP reveal a red photoluminescence emission under excitation with ultraviolet radiation. Annealing in a reductive atmosphere yields a crystalline Eu2+:SrAl2O4 nanopowder that shows an intense green emission.

Keywords

Laser vaporization, ceramic nanoparticles, photoluminescence, Al2O3-ZrO2, magnetic nanoparticles

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