Plasmon-Assisted, Spatially Resolved Laser Generation of Transition Metal Oxides from Liquid Precursors

Plasmonic heating-triggered laser generation of nanocrystalline oxides on colloidal crystal substrates has been so far limited by deposition of the oxide precursors, which relies on chemical vapor methods. A novel approach, based on infiltration of liquid precursors and characterized by a good control of spatial localization, was reported in this paper. Patterning of titanium oxide spots and microchannels was successfully performed. Additional advantages were highlighted by extending this procedure to oxides, such as ZnO and CeO(2), which are otherwise difficult to generate on these substrates by traditional approaches. Raman microspectroscopy evidenced the highly defective, nanocrystalline nature of the oxides. Scanning electron microscopy provided further microstructural information that allowed us to gain more insight into the mechanisms that govern the formation of these oxide spots and channels.