CC BY
0Laser-driven nanoparticle synthesis with tunable size, shape and
composition from 2D materials
G. Tselikov1*, G. Ermolaev1, A. Minnekhanov1, A. Arsenin1, V. Volkov
1-Emerging Technologies Research Center, XPANCEO, Dubai, 00000, United Arab Emirates
* celikov@xpanceo.com
Two-dimensional (2D) layered transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) have attracted tremendous research interests due to their unique properties for developing new-generation electronic and optoelectronic devices [1]. Nanostructures made from transition metal dichalcogenides represent unique platform for nanophotonics due to its high dielectric constants and nontrivial excitonic physics. The important feature of TMDCs nanoparticles (NPs) that distinguishes them from pure all-dielectric silicon NPs is the possibility of realization of Mie-exciton coupling regime that boosts light-matter interaction at the nanoscale manifesting itself in resonant enhancement of second harmonics generation [2], light scattering [3] and photothermal response [4]. However, it is worth noting that despite the recent significant progress in the field of dichalcogenide nanophotonics, the problem of nanostructuring of TMDCs remains open. On the one hand, it can be solved using standard technological approaches (such as lithography, ion beam etching). However, these methods have several limitations. For instance, they do not facilitate the production of spherical TMDCs nanoparticles. Meanwhile, various theranostic approaches rely on resonant spherical nanoparticles (NPs). These NPs enable both the visualization of nanoparticles within biological tissues and the treatment of malignancies through nanoparticle-enhanced phototherapy.
In this work, we demonstrate a simple method for synthesizing such well-defined nanoparticles of various shapes using femtosecond laser ablation. We establish that any of the TMDCs, MXenes, and perovskites we studied can be synthesized in the form of such particles from two-dimensional precursor materials. We experimentally prove the composition of the obtained nanoparticles and discuss the extensive potential of their applications. Their development and integration into devices and systems have the potential to drive innovations and improve performance in energy, catalysis, medicine, neuromorphic electronics, and environmental remediation. The results obtained will be useful in ongoing research to fully exploit the potential of such nanoparticles.
[1] B. Munkhbat, B. Kujukoz, D.G. Baranov, T.J. Antosiewicz, T.O. Shegai, Nanostructured Transition Metal Dichalcogenide Multilayers for Advanced Nanophotonics, Laser Photonics Rev, 17, 2200057 (2022).
[2] A.A. Popkova, I.M. Antropov, G.I. Tselikov, G.A. Ermolaev, I. Ozerov, R.V. Kirtaev, S.M. Novikov, A.B. Evlyukhin, A.V. Arsenin, V.O. Bessonov, V.S. Volkov, A.A. Fedyanin, Nonlinear Exciton-Mie Coupling in Transition Metal Dichalcogenide Nanoresonators, Laser & Photonics Reviews, 16(6) 2100604 (2022).
[3] G.I. Tselikov, G.A. Ermolaev, A.A. Popov, G.V. Tikhonowski, A.S. Taradin, A.A. Vyshnevyy, K. Novoselov, V.S. Volkov, Transition metal dichalcogenide nanospheres for high-refractive-index nanophotonics and biomedical theranostics, PNAS 119(39) e2208830119 (2022).
[4] A.S. Chernikov, G.I. Tselikov, M.Yu. Gubin, A.V. Shesterikov, K.S. Khorkov, A.V. Syuy, G. Ermolaev, I.S. Kazantsev, R.I. Romanov, A. Markeev, A.A. Popov, G.V. Tikhonowski, O.O. Kapitanova, D.A. Kochuev, A.Yu. Leksin, D.I. Tselikov, A.V Arsenin, A.V. Kabashin, V.S. Volkov, A.V. Prokhorov, Tunable optical properties of transition metal dichalcogenide nanoparticles synthesized by femtosecond laser ablation and fragmentation, J. Mater. Chem., 11, 3493-3503 (2023).
