Investigation of laser and thermal sintering processes of silver nanoparticles agglomerates synthesized by spark discharge

Abstract

Abstract Changes in the shape and size of silver nanoparticles (NPs) during their laser and thermal sintering have been studied experimentally and theoretically. Aerosol silver NPs forming dendrid-like agglomerates 180 nm in size were synthesized by spark discharge and exposed to laser radiation and high temperature of 750 °C. The shape and size of the NPs were investigated depending on the power of the laser radiation and the temperature of the gas. It is estimated that, at a power density of laser radiation of the order of 103-104 W/cm2, the formation of spherical NPs with an average size of 140 nm is expected. Such particles turn out to be similar to NPs thermally heated in a gas flow at 750 °C for 6 seconds.