Coulomb explosion-induced formation of highly oriented nanoparticles on thin films of 3C–SiC by the femtosecond pulsed laser

Abstract

We report the formation of highly oriented, uniform, and spherical nanoparticles of 3C–SiC as a result of Coulomb explosion during the interaction of near-infrared ultrafast laser pulses with 3C–SiC thin films grown on Si substrate. Experiments were performed at laser fluences well below the single shot, thermal modification threshold.