Formation of hollow micro- and nanostructures of zirconia by laser ablation of metal in liquid

Nanosized zirconia particles were generated by the laser ablation of metal in water and aqueous solutions of sodium dodecyl sulfate $(\text{SDS})$; the structure and morphology of the material were studied by X-ray diffractometry, Raman scattering spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The cubic, tetragonal, and monoclinic phases of zirconia and an organic–inorganic nanocomposite of $\mathrm{Zr}$–$\text{SDS}$ are found in the ablation product upon exposure of zirconium to powerful nanosecond laser pulses with a high repetition rate. Morphologically, the synthesized dioxide is present mainly in the amorphous state. Depending on the experimental conditions, the crystallized part of the dioxide consists of aggregates of rounded dense particles and hollow formations, whole or partially collapsed, close to spherical in shape. It is assumed that vapor–gas bubbles generated during ablation serve as templates for hollow micro- and nanoscale structures.