Laser ablation of natural micas: Synthesis of MgO and Mg(OH)2 nanoparticles and nanochains

MgO and Mg(OH)2 nanoparticles and nanochains are prepared by laser ablation of natural micas in water. The laser ablation of muscovite and biotite, yielded spherical nanoparticles of average diameter of 36 and 63 nm, whereas the diameter of the obtained nanochains ranged between 40 and 80 nm. The nominal lengths of the network structures are in the range of 400 nm to few microns. The synthesized nanoparticles and nanochains networks show a plasmon resonance band near the UV region.