Infrared laser-produced carbon-phase shield to oxidation of nanosized titanium monoxide

Pulsed infrared laser-irradiation of titanium monoxide leads to ablation and when carried out in gaseous benzene (1–5 Torr) to simultaneous dielectric breakdown of benzene into low molecular carbonaceous species which allow carbothermal reduction of ablated TiOx particles and their protection by carbonaceous shell. The deposited particles are characterized by Fourier transform infrared Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and by electron microscopy and shown to be stable towards oxidation in air. The reported process can find use in protection of gas-phase produced reactive nanoparticles by carbon phase.