ZnO and ε-Zn(OH)2 Composite Nanoparticles by Pulsed Laser Ablation on Zn in Water

Wurtzite-type (W)-ZnO and epsilon-Zn(OH)(2) composite nanoparticles following a specific crystallographic relationship (0001)(w)//(010)(epsilon); [11 (2) over bar0](w)//[100](epsilon), were fabricated by pulsed laser ablation on a Zn target in water and then characterized by analytical electron microscopy. The composite nanoparticles are platy and equiaxed in shape when fabricated by a peak power density of 1.7 x 10(11) W/cm(2) (1064 rim excitation) and 8.3 x 10(10) W/cm(2) (532 nm excitation), respectively. The W-ZnO nanoplates showed well-developed (0001) terraces for mutual coalescence and {10 (1) over bar0} and {11 (2) over bar0} edges for lateral. growth. The W-ZnO and epsilon-Zn(OH)(2) composite nanocondensates have an internal compressive stress up to ca. 0.7 GPa and a minimum band gap of similar to 3.1 eV for potential optoelectronic applications in water environment.