Effect of liquid medium temperature on the production rate and quality of graphene nanosheets produced by laser ablation

Effect of the liquid medium temperature on the characteristics of carbon nanostructures produced by pulsed laser ablation process in distilled water is investigated experimentally. The fundamental wavelength of a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser was employed to irradiate a high purity graphite target in distilled water at different temperatures of 0, 20, 35, 50 and 65 °C. Produced carbon nanostructures were diagnosed by UV–Vis–NIR spectroscopy, FTIR spectrum, X-ray diffraction pattern, transmission electron microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering and Raman scattering spectrum. Results show that graphene nanosheets and carbon nanoparticles were produced in all temperatures. With increasing the temperature of ablation liquid the number of carbon nanoparticles increases while the rate of graphene nanosheets production decreases.