Production and characteristics of composite nanopowders using a fiber ytterbium laser

A fiber ytterbium laser is used to obtain weakly aggregated nanopowders for yttria-stabilized zirconia solid electrolytes, ZnO and ZnS phosphors, and YAG- and Y$_2$O$_3$-based optical ceramics. The characteristics of the nanopowders are reported. The productivity and energy consumptions of the process with the use of fiber and CO$_2$ lasers are compared. The influence of the buffer gas pressure in the evaporation chamber on the specific surface area of the nanopowder and particle size distribution is studied. The elemental composition of nanoparticles is found to change relative to the composition of the target when yttrium aluminum garnet is evaporated. In the pulsed mode of operation, the energy needed for nanopowder production is minimal when the radiation pulse is about 100 $\mu$s long.