Jean-Pierre Petitet

On the characterization of disordered and heterogeneous carbonaceous materials by Raman spectroscopy

The applicability of Raman spectroscopy to characterize disordered and heterogeneous carbonaceous materials (CM) is discussed, by considering both natural and synthetic CM. First, different analytical mismatches during the measurement are discussed and technical indications are provided in order to eliminate them. Second, the accuracy and relevance of the different parameters obtained by the decomposition of spectra by conventional fitting procedure, is reviewed. Lastly, a new Raman technique (Raman area mode microspectroscopy) giving an homogeneous repartition of power within a large laser beam is presented, this technique being powerful to study strongly heterogeneous CM and/or photosensitive samples.

Spectroscopic studies of the molecular interactions in n-ethylamines and 2-nitropropane/n-ethylamine mixtures.

New experimental results are reported on molecular interactions in the n-ethylamines and 2-nitropropane (2-NP)/n-ethylamine mixtures studied by Raman spectroscopy under pressure in a diamond anvil cell (0-50 GPa) and, at ambient pressure, by infrared spectroscopy. Modifications of the infrared spectra in 2-NP in presence of triethylamine (TEA) or diethylamine (DEA) have been observed at ambient pressure and interpreted as a specific molecular interaction. High-pressure fluorescence in the vicinity of the liquid-solid phase transition of the 2-NP/DEA and 2-NP/monoethylamine mixtures, is highlighted and discussed.

Picosecond laser structuration under high pressures: Observation of boron nitride nanorods

We report on picosecond UV-laser processing of hexagonal boron nitride (BN) at moderately high pressures above 500 bar. The main effect is specific to the ambient gas and laser pulse duration in the ablation regime: when samples are irradiated by 5 or 0.45 ps laser pulses in nitrogen gas environment, multiple nucleation of a new crystalline product-BN nanorods-takes place. This process is triggered on structural defects, which number density strongly decreases upon recrystallization. Nonlinear photon absorption by adsorbed nitrogen molecules is suggested to mediate the nucleation growth. High pressure is responsible for the confinement and strong backscattering of ablation products. A strong surface structuring also appears at longer 150 ps laser irradiation in similar experimental conditions. However, the transformed product in this case is amorphous strongly contaminated by boron suboxides BxOy.

High-pressure cell for studies of ultra-short laser impulses action on materials

A high-pressure cell has been developed for in situ studies of the behavior of materials under ultra-short impulses on a sub-picosecond timescale. This set-up allows performing experiments under controlled atmosphere between a primary vacuum up to 100 MPa. We present some primarily results on hBN.