Lab talk
Apr 27, 2010
Lasers write semiconducting nanoparticles inside silica monoliths
As reported in the journal Nanotechnology, researchers in France have developed a simple route, based on a laser irradiation, for the localized growth of semiconductor particles. The group's method yields the space-selective precipitation, at room temperature, of CdS nanoparticles embedded in a transparent silica monolith.
The local generation of nanoparticles was performed in two different ways: either directly under the surface of the silica xerogel using a visible continuous laser, or inside the deep volume of the dielectric matrix using a pulsed femtosecond laser irradiation at a low repetition rate.
This method could be extended to other dielectrics shaped as monoliths or films and may also involve other nano-objects such as metallic nanoparticles or semiconducting nanorods.
A full description of the technique can be found in the journal Nanotechnology.
About the author
This work was performed within the Photonics Group of the Laboratoire de Physique des Lasers, Atomes et Molécules (CNRS, UMR 8523) at the Université Lille 1-Sciences et Technologies, (France). The group is recognized in the field of fibre optics and nanomaterials and its activity is based on the IRCICA optical fibre platform. The team's expertise includes preform manufacturing by means of MCVD, OVD (outside vapour deposition), Sol-Gel techniques and fibre-drawing facilities especially developed for the realization of photonic crystal fibres. Modelling of the guiding properties of the manufactured fibres is also realized in the group as well as the characterization of nanomaterials, preforms and fibres.
The team is currently supported by the French Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR) in the frame of the project named POMESCO (Organized Photo-growth of Metallic and Semi-Conductor nano-objects intended to Optic devices).
Dr Hicham El Hamzaoui is a postdoctoral researcher in the Photonics Group. Dr Rémy Bernard is assistant professor at the Université Lille 1-Sciences et Technologies. Abdallah Chahadih is a PhD student studying at the Université Lille 1-Sciences et Technologies. Dr Fernand Chassagneux is assistant professor and Dr Laurence Bois is CNRS researcher in the Laboratoire des Multimatériaux et Interfaces (CNRS, UMR 5615) of Université de Lyon 1. David Jegouso is an assistant engineer and Laurent Hay an engineer at Laboratoire de Physique des Lasers, Atomes et Molécules. Dr Bruno Capoen is a professor at the Université Lille 1-Sciences et Technologies. Prof. Mohamed Bouazaoui is head of the Photonics Group at the Laboratoire de Physique des Lasers, Atomes et Molécules.
