Comprehensive optical study of CdS and Fe/CdS nanoparticles synthesized by laser ablation

This work presents a detailed study of the characteristics of CdS and Fe/CdS nanoparticles synthesized by pulsed laser ablation in liquid at different conditions (environment, fluence, concentration). The study shows and discusses the crucial conditions and parameters that influence the production of the CdS and Fe/CdS nanoparticles. The results showed that the size and size distribution of CdS nanoparticles in methanol depends significantly on the particle concentration, laser fluence, and the liquid type. In addition, the presence of Fe nanoparticles in methanol limits the production of CdS to ultra-small particles even at high concentrations without affecting the structure of the energy states of the CdS nanoparticles. CdS nanoparticles generated in water suffer from the effects of water molecules, especially at low concentrations. This effect does not involve a permanent change in the composition of the particles. Adding surfactants to water reduces or eliminates these effects and significantly increases the ablation efficiency. The presence of CdS, Fe, and Fe/CdS in methanol does not noticeably affect the refractive index, chromatic dispersion, and thermal properties of the liquid. The results of this study can guide the process of controlling the properties of pure and hybrid CdS nanoparticles for optoelectronic and photonic applications.