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 TiO₂, TiO₂/ZnO, NiO, ZnO, Nb₂O₅, MoO₃, In₂O₃, WO₃, SrTiO₃ 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, In₂O₃, SrTiO₃ and mica did not react, but some melting took place in the case of ZnO. Thin films of WO₃ and MoO₃ on mica reacted to form a yellow-brown sharply delineated product phase. The materials TiO₂, TiO₂/ZnO, Nb₂O₅, MoO₃ and WO₃ 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.

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