NaCl particle interaction with 193-nm light: Ultraviolet photofragmentation and nanoparticle production

The interaction of nanoscale NaCl particles with 193-nm photons is studied to better understand particle disintegration and production by ultraviolet photofragmentation. The particles are irradiated in a constrained air stream with laser fluences from 0.08 to 0.23 J /cm2 with single and multiple pulses striking the particles. The resulting particle size distributions are measured with a scanning mobility particle sizer and the morphology is analyzed qualitatively by scanning electron microscopy SEM . Photofragmentation of NaCl particles at 193 nm produces gas-phase species as well as small solid-phase fragments without significantly heating the particles or creating a plasma. The irradiated particles have a mean diameter from 20 to 55 nm depending on the photon energy and a number concentration an order of magnitude higher than the 118-nm mean diameter nonirradiated particles. The SEM images before and after 193-nm irradiation reveal that the irradiated particles are less fractal and more spherical. © 2005 American Institute of Physics. DOI: 10.1063/1.1948511