Radiolysis of water at the surface of ZrO2 nanoparticles

Abstract

Radiolysis of water at the surface of ZrO2 nanoparticles was investigated by measuring the production of radiolysis products from nanoparticle/water mixtures under irradiation. A pulse radiolysis study and a gamma radiolysis study were conducted to observe and quantify radiolytically generated hydrated electrons (e-aq) and H2 from ZrO2/water mixtures. The radiolytic yield of e-aq and H2 from ZrO2 nanoparticles (20–5000 nm in diameter) was found to increase with increasing nanoparticle surface area indicating surface enhanced radiolysis. This was attributed to radiolysis of surface adsorbed water molecules. The thickness of the surface adjacent water layer was shown to affect radiolysis, with smaller numbers of water layers increasing radiolysis.