Laser ablation condensation and defect generation of Ti 1− xZr xO 2 nanoparticles

Abstract

Defective dioxide nanocondensates of varied Ti 1− x Zr x O 2 compositions and crystal structures, predominantly anatase, cubic (c-) and tetragonal (t-) fluorite type, were synthesized by energetic Nd-YAG laser pulse irradiation of the metal composite targets under oxygen background gas. The anatase-type was (0 0 1) faulted. The t-fluorite type Ti 1− x Zr x O 2 has a larger size than the c-fluorite-type and tended to be {0 0 1} faulted due to partial transformation to monoclinic-symmetry. The nanocondensates formed dislocations, faults and twin via Brownian rotation–coalescence and/or relaxation of the joined particles.