High power laser irradiation of pure metal targets has wide and relevant applications such as Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) of metal-based materials. The formation of nanoparticles in the laser ablation of metal targets (with pulses ranging from nanoseconds to femtoseconds) is a complex phenomenon, which involves competing ablation mechanisms and in-flight interactions in the plasma plume expelled from the target. Our study is focused on the phase explosion of the target's external layers, which give rise to a mixture of vapor phase and liquid nanodroplets directly produced within the target. Through a thermodynamic approach and a Monte Carlo simulation we have been able to evaluate the material composition immediately following the phase explosion and the size distribution of the expelled nanodroplets.

Thermodynamic modeling of liquid nanodroplet formation through phase explosion of laser-irradiated metal targets

Thermodynamic modeling of liquid nanodroplet formation through phase

explosion of laser-irradiated metal targets

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mixed oxides in water oxidation reaction.

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Physical vapor deposition of mixed-metal oxides based on Fe, Co and Ni as water oxidation catalysts

Physical vapor deposition techniques are proposed as new ways to synthesize mixed-metal oxides thin films as catalysts for the water oxidation reaction. The search of efficient catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction is a key point to develop economically viable hydrogen production technologies. Water oxidation catalysts based on abundant first-row transition metals are currently studied in the scientific community since they are cheap and environmentally friendly materials.

Simple and binary metal oxides thin films based on iron, cobalt and nickel are currently under study in our laboratory, using Electron Beam Deposition (EBD) technique.

The prepared samples are systematically studied through SEM microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and the electrochemical characterization of the catalysts has been carried out to show the relevance of synergic effects of mixed oxides in water oxidation reaction.