Growth mechanism and optical characteristics of Nd:YAG laser ablated amorphous cinnamon nanoparticles produced in ethanol: Influence of accumulative pulse irradiation time variation

Abstract

This paper reports the optical characteristics and growth mechanism of some amorphous cinnamon nanoparticles (ACNPs) prepared in ethanol via the nanosecond-pulse laser ablation in liquid (N-PLAL) method with optimum laser parameters. As-prepared samples were characterized using different analytical tools. The effects of different accumulative pulse irradiation times (0–2100 s) on the fluorescence quantum yield, bonding vibration, absorption, and photoluminescence emission traits of these samples were determined. The transmission electron microscope image and select area electron diffraction pattern of the samples displayed the nucleation of nearly spherical ACNPs (mean size ~23.07 ± 4.31 nm) with self-agglomerated morphology. The emergence of a broad halo around 15-30° in the X-ray diffraction pattern verified the amorphous structure of the ACNPs. Fourier-transform infrared and optical absorption spectra of the ACNPs showed the existence of protein components and many intense plus weak peaks in the range of 315 to 278 nm, respectively. Photoluminescence spectra of the ACNPs exhibited three prominent peaks at 406, 435, and 459 nm. Fluorescence quantum yield of the ACNPs prepared at the laser fluence of 2.1 ± 0.4 J/cm2 was discerned to be 0.0242. These amorphous ACNPs are asserted to be beneficial for the biomedicine applications especially against the deadly viruses.