Formation of Cd particles by UV laser irradiation

Formation of the metal particles of Cd has been studied by nanosecond laser flash photolysis using an ArF excimer laser with the oscillation wavelength of 193 nm. The sample was a 10% methanol solution of CdCl₂. The solvated electron, e_aq⁻, was generated by the excitation of charge transfer bands of Cl⁻ to solvent. The e_aq⁻ efficiently reduced Cd²⁺ to Cd⁺ during a laser pulse of 30 ns (FWHM). The Cd particles were produced by the reaction between Cd⁺ and Cd⁺. In the air saturated solution, the Cd⁺ was easily oxidized by dissolved oxygen. The concentration of the Cd particles formed in the degassed solution was approximately twice of that in the air saturated solution.