Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for characterizing biological particles in aerosol form, such as suspended in an ambient gas, by laser-induced breakdown spectrometry and an associated system.

Abstract: The invention concerns a system (S) for characterising the particles of an aerosol, characterised in that it comprises: a sampler (E) capable of sampling an ambient gas likely to comprise particles in aerosol form; a device (D) for characterising said particles by laser-induced breakdown spectrometry, capable of generating a jet of particles with the sampled particles and of analysing them by interaction with a laser beam; at least one means (M) for diluting the concentration of the aerosol particles of the ambient gas sampled by the sampler, to ensure that the focal volume (VF) of the laser beam comprises only one individual particle of the jet. The invention also relates to a method for implementing the system.

Abstract: A device (1) for coating a substrate (4) with nanometric sized particles, wherein the device comprises: a plurality of aerodynamic lenses able to product a jet (3) of nanometric sized particles, each of the aerodynamic lenses having a longitudinal axis, the aerodynamic lenses being arranged so that the various longitudinal axes are parallel and oriented in a first direction (X) defining the direction of propagation of the jet and in the form of at least two columns (9, 10) offset from each other in a second direction (Y) orthogonal to the first direction, where the first and the second column each comprise at least one of the aerodynamic lenses, the at least one of the aerodynamic lenses of the first column also being offset relative to the at least one of the aerodynamic lenses of the second column in a third direction (Z) that is both orthogonal to the first direction and to the second direction.

Abstract: A device for synthesising core-shell nanoparticles by laser pyrolysis is provided. The device includes a reactor having a first chamber for synthesising the core, which is provided with an inlet for a core precursor; a second chamber for synthesising the shell, which is provided with an inlet for a shell precursor; and at least one communication channel between the two chambers for transmitting the core of the nanoparticles to be formed in the first chamber towards the second chamber. The device also includes an optical device for illuminating each of the two chambers, and at least one laser capable of emitting a laser beam intended to interact with the precursors in order to form the core and the shell.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling the divergence of a jet of particles in vacuo with an aerodynamic lens, the aerodynamic lens including at least one chamber; a diaphragm, a so-called inlet diaphragm, intended to form an inlet of the aerodynamic lens for a jet of particles, the inlet diaphragm having a given diameter (d1); and another diaphragm, a so-called outlet diaphragm, intended to form an outlet of the aerodynamic lens for this jet of particles; the method including: a step for generating the jet of particles from the inlet to the outlet, in vacuo, of the aerodynamic lens; and a step for adjusting the diameter (ds) of the outlet diaphragm for controlling the divergence of the jet of particles.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a process for depositing nanoparticles on a substrate and comprising the following steps: a) generating an aerosol from a suspension of nanoparticles in a liquid; b) generating, with the aerosol, a jet of nanoparticles in a carrier gas, under vacuum; c) depositing said nanoparticles of the jet on a substrate; characterised in that step a) is carried out using a surfactant-free suspension in which the nanoparticles comprise a core made of a conductive or semiconductor material coated by a shell made of a non-metallic material. The disclosure also relates to a substrate obtained by said process.

Abstract: A device (1) for coating a substrate (4) with nanometric sized particles, wherein the device (1) comprises: a plurality of means (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d) called production means, each able to product a jet (3) of nanometric sized particles, each of said production means having a longitudinal axis, the production means being arranged so that the various longitudinal axes are parallel and oriented in a first direction (X) defining the direction of propagation of the jet and in the form of at least two columns (9, 10) offset from each other in a second direction (Y) orthogonal to the first direction (X), where the first (9) and the second column (10) each comprise at least one production means, said at least one production means (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d) of the first column (9) also being offset relative to said at least one production means (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d) of the second column (10) in a third direction (Z) that is both orthogonal to the first direction (X) and to the second direction (Y).

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a process for depositing nanoparticles on a substrate and comprising the following steps: a) generating an aerosol from a suspension of nanoparticles in a liquid; b) generating, with the aerosol, a jet of nanoparticles in a carrier gas, under vacuum; c) depositing said nanoparticles of the jet on a substrate; characterised in that step a) is carried out using a surfactant-free suspension in which the nanoparticles comprise a core made of a conductive or semiconductor material coated by a shell made of a non-metallic material. The disclosure also relates to a substrate obtained by said process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for synthesizing a nanostructured composite material and to an implementation device associated with this process. The device (100) comprises a chamber (3) for synthesizing said material comprising a system (13, 13a, 13b) for depositing the matrix on a target surface (15); a system (1, 4, 5, 9) for generating a jet of nanoparticles in a carrier gas comprising an expansion chamber (1) equipped with an outlet orifice (7) for the nanoparticles toward the synthesis chamber (3, 3?) and, in addition, means (21, 22, 23) for adjusting the distance L between the outlet orifice (7) of the expansion chamber and the target surface (15).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling the divergence of a jet of particles in vacuo with an aerodynamic lens, the aerodynamic lens including at least one chamber; a diaphragm, a so-called inlet diaphragm, intended to form an inlet of the aerodynamic lens for a jet of particles, the inlet diaphragm having a given diameter (d1); and another diaphragm, a so-called outlet diaphragm, intended to form an outlet of the aerodynamic lens for this jet of particles; the method including: a step for generating the jet of particles from the inlet to the outlet, in vacuo, of the aerodynamic lens; and a step for adjusting the diameter (ds) of the outlet diaphragm for controlling the divergence of the jet of particles.

Abstract: A device for cutting a structure including nanotubes, including: a mechanism to polarize linearly laser pulses emitted in a direction of the structure, wherein a duration of the laser pulses is roughly between 1 femtosecond and 300 femtoseconds; and a mechanism to focus the linearly polarized laser pulses on the structure.

Abstract: The invention relates to the synthesis of silicon-containing nanoparticles by laser pyrolysis. For this purpose: a precursor (SIH4) containing the element silicon is conveyed, by a transport fluid (He), into a pyrolysis reactor (REAC); laser radiation (LAS) is applied, in the reactor, to a mixture that the transport fluid and the precursor form; and silicon-containing nanoparticles (nP) are recovered at the exit of the reactor. In particular, the power of the laser radiation is controlled. Furthermore, the effective pulse duration is controlled within a laser firing period. Typically, for a power greater than 500 watts and a pulse duration greater than 40% of a laser firing period, nanoparticles having a crystalline structure with a size of less than or of the order of one nanometer are obtained at a rate greater than or of the order of 80 milligrams per hour. Under optimum conditions, a record rate of greater than 740 milligrams per hour was able to be obtained.

Abstract: A device for synthesising core-shell nanoparticles by laser pyrolysis is provided. The device includes a reactor having a first chamber for synthesising the core, which is provided with an inlet for a core precursor; a second chamber for synthesising the shell, which is provided with an inlet for a shell precursor; and at least one communication channel between the two chambers for transmitting the core of the nanoparticles to be formed in the first chamber towards the second chamber. The device also includes an optical device for illuminating each of the two chambers, and at least one laser capable of emitting a laser beam intended to interact with the precursors in order to form the core and the shell.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for synthesizing a nanostructured composite material and to an implementation device associated with this process. The device (100) comprises a chamber (3) for synthesizing said material comprising a system (13, 13a, 13b) for depositing the matrix on a target surface (15); a system (1, 4, 5, 9) for generating a jet of nanoparticles in a carrier gas comprising an expansion chamber (1) equipped with an outlet orifice (7) for the nanoparticles toward the synthesis chamber (3, 3?) and, in addition, means (21, 22, 23) for adjusting the distance L between the outlet orifice (7) of the expansion chamber and the target surface (15).

Abstract: A device for cutting a structure including nanotubes, including: a mechanism to polarize linearly laser pulses emitted in a direction of the structure, wherein a duration of the laser pulses is roughly between 1 femtosecond and 300 femtoseconds; and a mechanism to focus the linearly polarized laser pulses on the structure.

Abstract: The invention relates to the synthesis of silicon-containing nanoparticles by laser pyrolysis. For this purpose: a precursor (SIH4) containing the element silicon is conveyed, by a transport fluid (He), into a pyrolysis reactor (REAC); laser radiation (LAS) is applied, in the reactor, to a mixture that the transport fluid and the precursor form; and silicon-containing nanoparticles (nP) are recovered at the exit of the reactor. In particular, the power of the laser radiation is controlled. Furthermore, the effective pulse duration is controlled within a laser firing period. Typically, for a power greater than 500 watts and a pulse duration greater than 40% of a laser firing period, nanoparticles having a crystalline structure with a size of less than or of the order of one nanometer are obtained at a rate greater than or of the order of 80 milligrams per hour. Under optimum conditions, a record rate of greater than 740 milligrams per hour was able to be obtained.

Abstract: The invention relates to the synthesis of silicon-containing nanoparticles by laser pyrolysis. For this purpose: a precursor (SiH4) containing the element silicon is conveyed, by a transport fluid (He), into a pyrolysis reactor (REAC); laser radiation (LAS) is applied, in the reactor, to a mixture that the transport fluid and the precursor form; and silicon-containing nanoparticles (nP) are recovered at the exit of the reactor. In particular, the power of the laser radiation is controlled. Furthermore, the effective pulse duration is controlled within a laser firing period. Typically, for a power greater than 500 watts and a pulse duration greater than 40% of a laser firing period, nanoparticles having a crystalline structure with a size of less than or of the order of one nanometer are obtained at a rate greater than or of the order of 80 milligrams per hour. Under optimum conditions, a record rate of greater than 740 milligrams per hour was able to be obtained.

Abstract: The invention relates to the synthesis of silicon-containing nanoparticles by laser pyrolysis. For this purpose: a precursor (SiH4) containing the element silicon is conveyed, by a transport fluid (He), into a pyrolysis reactor (REAC); laser radiation (LAS) is applied, in the reactor, to a mixture that the transport fluid and the precursor form; and silicon-containing nanoparticles (nP) are recovered at the exit of the reactor. In particular, the power of the laser radiation is controlled. Furthermore, the effective pulse duration is controlled within a laser firing period. Typically, for a power greater than 500 watts and a pulse duration greater than 40% of a laser firing period, nanoparticles having a crystalline structure with a size of less than or of the order of one nanometre are obtained at a rate greater than or of the order of 80 milligrams per hour. Under optimum conditions, a record rate of greater than 740 milligrams per hour was able to be obtained.

Abstract: The device comprises a device (2) for creating an essentially linear target (4) in an evacuated space where laser beams (1) are focused, the target being suitable for interacting with the focused laser beams (1) to emit a plasma emitting radiation in the extreme ultraviolet. A receiver device (3) receives the target (4) after it has interacted with the focused laser beams (1), and a collector device (110) collects the EUV radiation emitted by the target (4). The focusing elements (11) for focusing the laser beams on the target (4) are arranged in such a manner that the laser beams (1) are focused on the target (4) laterally, being situated in a common half-space relative to the target (4) and being inclined at a determined angle lying in the range about 60° to about 90° relative to a mean collection axis (6) perpendicular to the target (4).

Abstract: The device comprises a device (2) for creating an essentially linear target (4) in an evacuated space where laser beams (1) are focused, the target being suitable for interacting with the focused laser beams (1) to emit a plasma emitting radiation in the extreme ultraviolet. A receiver device (3) receives the target (4) after it has interacted with the focused laser beams (1), and a collector device (110) collects the EUV radiation emitted by the target (4). The focusing elements (11) for focusing the laser beams on the target (4) are arranged in such a manner that the laser beams (1) are focused on the target (4) laterally, being situated in a common half-space relative to the target (4) and being inclined at a determined angle lying in the range about 60° to about 90° relative to a mean collection axis (6) perpendicular to the target (4).