Nanoparticles, broadly spherical pieces of material with diameters in the nanoscale range,
have a number of advantageous physical, chemical, electrical, and optical properties. These
unique properties make them suitable for a wide range of applications including sensing,
medical therapeutics, printed electronics, and anti-fouling/anti-microbial surfaces. Pulsed
laser ablation in liquid (PLAL), also known as laser ablation synthesis in solution (LASIS), is
an attractive, green method for producing ligand-free nanoparticles in solution. These
nanoparticles can be produced from a wide range of target materials and avoids the use of
hazardous, environmentally-unfriendly chemicals. In this chapter, the key applications,
conventional generation methods of nanoparticles, as well as the background and cutting
edge of PLAL are reviewed