This work presents results on laser-induced surface structuring of AlN ceramic and its application in Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS). The laser processing is performed by nanosecond pulses in air and vacuum. Depending on the processing conditions, different surface morphology can be obtained. The ablation process is realized by ceramic decomposition as the formation of an aluminium layer is detected. The efficiency of the fabricated structures as active substrates in SERS is estimated by the ability of the detection of ammonium nitrate (NH₄NO₃). It is conducted for Raman spectrometer systems that operate at wavelengths of 514 and 785 nm where the most common commercial systems work. The obtained structures contribute to enhancement of the Raman signal at both wavelengths, as the efficiency is higher for excitation at 514 nm. The limit of detection (LOD) of ammonium nitrate is estimated to be below the maximum allowed value in drinking water. The analysis of the obtained results was based on the calculations of the near field enhancement at different conditions based on Finite Difference Time Domain simulation and the extinction spectra calculations based on Generalized Mie scattering theory. The structures considered in these simulations were taken from the SEM images of the real samples. The oxidation issue of the ablated surface was studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The presented results indicated that laser structuring of AlN ceramics is a way for fabrication of Al structures with specific near-field properties that can be used for the detection of substances with high social impact.

The paper presents results on nanosecond laser ablation of thin films immersed in a liquid. The thin films were prepared by consecutive deposition of layers of different metals by thermal evaporation (first layer) and classical on-axis pulsed laser deposition (second layer); Ni/Au, Ag/Au and Ni/Ag thin films were thus deposited on glass substrates. The as-prepared films were then placed at the bottom of a glass vessel filled with double distilled water and irradiated by nanosecond laser pulses delivered by a Nd:YAG laser system at λ = 355 nm. This resulted in the formation of colloids of the thin films' material. We also compared the processes of ablation of a bulk target and a thin film in the liquid by irradiating a Au target and a Au thin film by the same laser wavelength and fluence (λ = 355 nm, F = 5 J/cm²). The optical properties of the colloids were evaluated by optical transmittance measurements in the UV– VIS spectral range. Transmission electron microscopy was employed to estimate the particles' size distribution.

Colloidal solutions of gold and silver nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared using a method pulsed laser ablation of target in liquid media. A gold and silver targets immersed in double distilled water are irradiated for 20 min by laser pulses with duration of 15 ns and repetition rate of 10 Hz. In order to investigate influences of laser wavelength and fluence on the particle size, shape and optical properties the experiments were preformed by using two different wavelength - the fundamental and the second harmonic (SH) (λ = 1064 and 532 nm, respectively) of a Nd:YAG laser system. Two different values of the laser fluence for each wavelength at the experimental conditions chosen were used and thus it was changed from several J/cm2 to tens of J/cm2. For characterization of the NPs shape and size distribution were used transmission electron microscope (TEM) and optical transmission spectroscopy in the near UV and in the visible region. Spherical shape of the nanoparticles at the low laser fluence and appearance of aggregation and building of nanowires at the SH and high laser fluence is seen. Dependence of the mean particle size at the SH on the laser fluence was established. The mean diameter of gold NPs became smaller with decrease in laser wavelength.

The paper presents results on femtosecond laser irradiation-induced modification of the optical properties of a composite material – gold nanoparticles embedded into a borosilicate glass host. The process is initiated by laser pulses delivered by a Ti:sapphire laser system with pulse duration of 35 fs. The glass samples are prepared by melt quenching with gold added as hydrogen tetrachloroaurate (III) hydrate to the initial composition. Post-fabrication annealing leads to a homogeneous formation of nanoparticles in the glass; varying the annealing parameters results in producing nanoparticles with different sizes and shapes. The laser irradiation of the samples induces significant modification of the optical spectra of the glass through changes of the nanoparticles characteristics. The effects are studied of the laser fluence, laser wavelength and laser pulses number. The heat diffusion equation is applied to estimate the temperature evolution and explain the modifications observed. The results demonstrate this technique’s efficiency in modifying the nanoparticles properties with a high 3D spatial resolution, which can be useful in fabrication of integrated optical systems.