Chapter 4
Laser-Induced Synthesis and Processing
of Nanoparticles in the Liquid Phase
for Biosensing and Catalysis
Giuseppe Compagnini, Marcello Condorelli, Carmelo La Rosa,
Luisa D’Urso, Salvatore Scirè, Roberto Fiorenza, Simona Filice,
and Silvia Scalese
Abstract Laser ablation (LAL) and irradiation in liquids (LIL) are becoming two
of the most studied and dominant ways of synthesis and modification for nanostructured materials. Such rapid development is due to a fast and economic way to obtain
nanoparticles of any material. Starting from solid targets submerged in water or other
liquids, it is possible to obtain noble metals, metal alloys, metal oxides, and graphene
nanoparticles, simply by irradiating the target with a focused laser beam. Moreover,
it is also possible to modify already existing nanoparticles, generating defects in
their structures or reshaping them, through laser irradiation of their colloidal dispersion using an unfocused laser beam. In this chapter, a focus on the fundaments of
laser ablation and modification in liquids is reported as well as some advances in the
synthesis and modification of new nanostructures with their relative application in
different fields of research such as bio-sensing, catalysis, and optoelectronics. The
example of the synthesis of ultra-pure silver nanoparticles by LAL and their application as surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) active substrate for biosensing
application is provided. In such a study, it is possible to detect and characterize a
protein involved in diabetes mellitus type 2 (amylin), at nanomolar concentration.
LIL has been also considered to modify commercial TiO 2 and graphene oxide (GO)
colloids. Such unconventional treatment has shown to enhance the performances of
these two materials, towards photocatalytic water splitting and water purification
applications, thanks to the modification of the morphology and oxygen functionalities of these materials. As an added value, the LIL of TiO 2 and GO is a more green
technique and tunable methodology concerning conventional reduction methods.
Laser irradiation of GO results in conferring to the material an antimicrobial activity
not shown by the untreated one. Similarly, the performance in the photocatalytic
H 2 production of laser-treated TiO 2 samples is examined pointing out that the TiO 2
G. Compagnini (B) · M. Condorelli · C. La Rosa · L. D’Urso · S. Scirè · R. Fiorenza · S. Filice
Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Università di Catania, Viale A. Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy
e-mail: gcompagnini@unict.it
S. Filice · S. Scalese
Istituto per la Microelettronica e Microsistemi, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Zona
industriale VIII Strada n. 5, 95121 Catania, Italy
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
A. Hu (ed.), Laser Micro-Nano-Manufacturing and 3D Microprinting, Springer Series
in Materials Science 309, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-59313-1_4
133
Laser-Induced Synthesis and Processing
of Nanoparticles in the Liquid Phase
for Biosensing and Catalysis
Giuseppe Compagnini, Marcello Condorelli, Carmelo La Rosa,
Luisa D’Urso, Salvatore Scirè, Roberto Fiorenza, Simona Filice,
and Silvia Scalese
Abstract Laser ablation (LAL) and irradiation in liquids (LIL) are becoming two
of the most studied and dominant ways of synthesis and modification for nanostructured materials. Such rapid development is due to a fast and economic way to obtain
nanoparticles of any material. Starting from solid targets submerged in water or other
liquids, it is possible to obtain noble metals, metal alloys, metal oxides, and graphene
nanoparticles, simply by irradiating the target with a focused laser beam. Moreover,
it is also possible to modify already existing nanoparticles, generating defects in
their structures or reshaping them, through laser irradiation of their colloidal dispersion using an unfocused laser beam. In this chapter, a focus on the fundaments of
laser ablation and modification in liquids is reported as well as some advances in the
synthesis and modification of new nanostructures with their relative application in
different fields of research such as bio-sensing, catalysis, and optoelectronics. The
example of the synthesis of ultra-pure silver nanoparticles by LAL and their application as surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) active substrate for biosensing
application is provided. In such a study, it is possible to detect and characterize a
protein involved in diabetes mellitus type 2 (amylin), at nanomolar concentration.
LIL has been also considered to modify commercial TiO 2 and graphene oxide (GO)
colloids. Such unconventional treatment has shown to enhance the performances of
these two materials, towards photocatalytic water splitting and water purification
applications, thanks to the modification of the morphology and oxygen functionalities of these materials. As an added value, the LIL of TiO 2 and GO is a more green
technique and tunable methodology concerning conventional reduction methods.
Laser irradiation of GO results in conferring to the material an antimicrobial activity
not shown by the untreated one. Similarly, the performance in the photocatalytic
H 2 production of laser-treated TiO 2 samples is examined pointing out that the TiO 2
G. Compagnini (B) · M. Condorelli · C. La Rosa · L. D’Urso · S. Scirè · R. Fiorenza · S. Filice
Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Università di Catania, Viale A. Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy
e-mail: gcompagnini@unict.it
S. Filice · S. Scalese
Istituto per la Microelettronica e Microsistemi, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Zona
industriale VIII Strada n. 5, 95121 Catania, Italy
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
A. Hu (ed.), Laser Micro-Nano-Manufacturing and 3D Microprinting, Springer Series
in Materials Science 309, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-59313-1_4
133