Femtosecond laser carbonization of polystyrene

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that femtosecond laser irradiation of polystyrene microspheres induces carbonization, producing nanomaterials with broadband luminescence and crystalline carbon nanoobjects, revealing a new laser-based fabrication method.

Contribution

It introduces a novel femtosecond laser technique to carbonize polystyrene microspheres, creating luminescent nanomaterials with crystalline carbon structures.

Findings

Laser irradiation causes polystyrene to form carbon nanomaterials.

Carbonized products exhibit broadband excitation-dependent luminescence.

Raman and TEM confirm presence of crystalline carbon nanoobjects.

Abstract

Multi-pulse femtosecond laser irradiation of a monolayer of polystyrene microspheres deposited on a polystyrene substrate leads to the formation of carbon nanomaterial exhibiting broadband excitation-dependent luminescence both within the microspheres and in the substrate. Initial polystyrene substrate and microspheres are transparent at the laser wavelength (800 nm). Peak intensity of the laser irradiation focusing by the microspheres reaches 1013 W/cm2, resulting in multiphoton absorption followed by ionization and further carbonization processes. Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy analysis show that carbonization products contain carbon crystalline nanoobjects.