Photoluminescence of ZnO nanoparticles generated by laser ablation in deionized water

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles were synthesized using pulsed laser ablation of a Zn metal plate in deionized water without using surfactant. The beam of a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser of 1064-nm and 532-nm wavelengths at 6-ns pulse width and different fluences is employed to irradiate the solid target in water. Transmission electron microscopy images revealed that the size of the ZnO nanoparticles formed by the 532-nm wavelength laser beam is smaller than that of the nanoparticles generated by the 1064-nm wavelength laser beam. The room-temperature photoluminescence spectra of the ZnO nanoparticles show intense violet emission along with emission in blue and green bands. The excellent ultraviolet emission indicates that the ZnO nanostructures have a low defect concentration.