MSc., Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, 2011 / This dissertation discusses the synthesis method known as laser pyrolysis. The theory on laser
pyrolysis has been inferred since 1975, but it is insufficient in predicting the products that can
be formed. This is due to the use of a laser, which leads to indecisive reaction pathways from
precursor to product. In this work, the laser wavelength and power are varied to initiate a
starting point in understanding the complex nature of the laser–precursor interaction, in
addition to studying the resulting nanomaterial that is formed by the corresponding laser
pyrolysis parameters. The results are justified based on linear and nonlinear optical processes,
as well as photophysical and photochemical processes. Experiments to produce tungsten
trioxide nanowires were conducted, but similar products could not be achieved, due to the
difficulty in emulating ‘sensitive’ variables such as gas pressure and flow rates. However, it
was discovered for the first time using this method that six-sided tungsten oxide “stars” can
be grown.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:wits/oai:wiredspace.wits.ac.za:10539/11220 |
| Date | 01 February 2012 |
| Creators | Govender, Malcolm |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | application/pdf |
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