Some physical properties of zirconium and molybdenum oxide nanostructures produced by metal laser ablation in water

A number of results of experimental studies of physical properties of nanostructures of oxides of transition metals, i.e., zirconium (Zr) and molybdenum (Mo), obtained by laser ablation of metal targets in water are presented. The structure, morphology, and some optical characteristics are studied. It is shown that Zr and Mo oxides are synthesized under these conditions mostly as amorphous masses containing particles less than 1–2 nm in size, of which large nanostructures and hollow quasi-spheres are formed.