Ultra-rapid laser irradiation as a preparative technique in solid state chemistry
Abstract
This paper describes the use of laser irradiation to induce chemical reactions in solids. Single pulses from excimer and YAG lasers which had a wavelength in the near ultraviolet, a pulse length duration of about 10
–9
s and a total energy of 1 J cm
–2
were employed. The materials irradiated were the metal oxides TiO
2
, TiO
2
/ZnO, NiO, ZnO, Nb
2
O
5
, MoO
3
, In
2
O
3
, WO
3
, SrTiO
3
and mica. These were in the form of particles and films laid on substrates of glass or mica except for mica alone which was in the form of a cleaved foil. NiO, ZnO, In
2
O
3
, SrTiO
3
and mica did not react, but some melting took place in the case of ZnO. Thin films of WO
3
and MoO
3
on mica reacted to form a yellow-brown sharply delineated product phase. The materials TiO
2
, TiO
2
/ZnO, Nb
2
O
5
, MoO
3
and WO
3
darkened instantaneously to produce a sharply delineated mark which was sometimes accompanied by melting. This coloration is not normal photochromism and is believed to be due to reduction.
- This article is part of the themed collection: Solid state chemistry: Novel Syntheses and New Materials: Materials Discussion 1
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