Preparation and morphology control of silver colloids by laser ablation in water

Nano-size colloids of silver were prepared by laser ablation in water in various conditions of laser pulses, such as wavelength, intensity, and pulse duration. The formation efficiency, the size, and the size distribution of colloids were varied with these conditions. It was suggested that interaction between laser pulses and colloidal particles plays important roles in the formation process. It is also demonstrated that supplemental laser irradiation onto silver colloids in pure water results information of wire-like structures in addition to fragmented particles.