Influence of UV and visible laser light on the structure and composition of layered organic – inorganic zinc and copper nanocomposites

The effect of UV and visible laser light on the structure and composition of layered organic–inorganic nanocomposites of transition metals, zinc [zinc hydroxide/dodecyl sulfate, Zn(OH)₂DS] and copper [copper hydroxide/dodecyl sulfate, Cu₂(OH)₃DS], has been experimentally investigated. Nanocomposites have been synthesised by laser ablation of targets from the aforementioned materials in aqueous solutions of a surfactant: sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The absorption and Raman spectra of the thus obtained colloids are analysed. The structural composition and morphology of the solid phase isolated from the colloids are determined using X-ray diffraction, atomic-force microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. It is shown that exposure of nanocomposites to UV and visible laser light with intensities in the range of 5 × 10⁵–10⁷ W cm^-2 or higher leads to their fragmentation and change in their composition.