Stability of uncapped gold nanoparticles produced by laser ablation in deionized water: The effect of post-irradiation

Gold nanoparticle (AuNP) solution prepared by laser ablation in liquid (LAL) was irradiated by ns laser pulses to investigate the wavelength dependence on the size distribution of AuNPs and long-term stability of post-irradiated AuNP solutions. We have employed 266, 355, 532, and 1064 nm lasers for post-irradiation source and found considerable wavelength dependence in the size distribution and stability of laser-generated AuNPs. Post-irradiation at 355 nm was most effective to reduce the size distribution and to enhance the stability. The classical Derjaguin–Landau–Verwey–Overbeek theory was employed to explain the anomalous stability at 355 nm.