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Technical Report

No.2
Metal nanoparticle playing the important role for sensor application or for fuel cell catalyst

Metal nanoparticle is widely utilized in the application for fuel cell, catalysts for nanocarbon material, or optical/ gas sensor. In those applications, it is crucial having a large surface area and a sharp particles size distribution.

In NARA, metal nanoparticles can be prepared by Laser Ablation Technology. Laser Ablation is the technology to obtain nanoparticle or thin film from the target material by irradiating pulse laser to it in a vacuum chamber. The size of metal nanoparticles can be controlled by the atmospheric pressure in the vacuum chamber.

This TEM photo of Silver (Ag) nanoparticles shows the optical characteristic of precious metal nanoparticle by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) absorption. They are uniform-sized Ag nanoparticle with average size of 5nm.

Not only making nanoparticle and to deposit them on the substrate in vacuum chamber environment, but also Laser Ablation makes it possible to prepare nano-suspension that is made of a certain solution and well-dispersed suspension of nanoparticles in it.

We also have experiences in various metals such as Cu, Au, Pt, Pd, V, Al, Co, Si, W, Ni, Ti, Fe.
It is also interesting technology to metal alloy materials to make nanoparticle or thin film with less unalignment of composites.