Influence of liquid media and laser energy on the production of MgO nanoparticles by laser ablation

Nano and micro-sized metal particles are interesting solutions for several applications, from electronics to biomedical fields. In recent years, MgO has been gaining attention due to its nontoxicity and antibacterial activity, making this an interesting material for implants coating for instance. This study aims the fabrication/preparation of nanoparticles by laser ablation in liquid from the Mg bulk. The influence of liquid media and laser energy on the morphology, size and properties of the obtained nanoparticles was assessed. A Nd:YAG nanosecond laser of 1064 nm of wavelength at different laser energies was employed to irradiate Mg target in three environments (distilled water+SDS, ethanol and propanol). Ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) absorption spectrophotometry, scanning electron microscopy with a transmission electron detector (STEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used for characterizing the obtained particles, viz. particles’ mean size and size distribution. The composition of the obtained nanoparticles was analyzed by SAED patterns. The results showed that the characteristics of the obtained nanoparticles were prominently influenced by varying laser energy and liquid medium. The smaller particles are obtained when using ethanol and propanol (having 16.7 nm and 15.3 nm respectively), as compared to distilled water+surfactant.