Metal deposition with femtosecond light pulses at atmospheric pressure

Cr from adsorbed layers of Cr(CO)6 were deposited using femtosecond pulses of 400 nm light. The deposition was continually monitored with a charge coupled device camera which resides above the microscope tube lens. All experiments were carried out in air and similar results were obtained for W(CO)6 and Mo(CO)6. Both transmitted and reflected light imaging was used to monitor the opacity and reflectivity of the deposits.