Laser ablation in liquids of germanium in externally applied electric fields

Ultraviolet light from a XeF excimer laser was used to ablate a germanium target which was immersed in either distilled water or ethanol. Two electrodes in the processing container were used to produce an electric field with the strength ranging from 0 to 9.5 V/cm. The effect of externally applied electric fields on the fabricated nanoparticles was studied. The size and morphology of the obtained products were investigated using transmission electron microscopy. In each liquid, spherical nanoparticles were fabricated. It was observed that the electric field affects their size distribution. With increased electric field strength, the fabricated particles were smaller. However, in the same electric field, particles obtained in water were larger than those in ethanol, except for the 9.5 V/cm field. Additionally, spindle-shaped ablation products have been observed for ablation in ethanol under an electric field of 9.5 V/cm, while ablation in water in all studied fields resulted in filamentary webs. (C) 2016 Laser Institute of America.