Synthesis of nanocrystalline cubic zirconia using femtosecond laser ablation

We report on the synthesis of nanocrystalline zirconia in liquid using femtosecond laser ablation. Nanocrystalline cubic zirconia has been prepared by femtosecond laser ablation of zirconium in ammonia, while nanocrystalline tetragonal and monoclinic zirconia was synthesized in water. The physical and chemical mechanisms of the formation of nanocrystalline metastable zirconia are discussed. The intrinsic properties of femtosecond laser ablation in liquid and OH⁻¹ may be responsible for the synthesis of cubic zirconia. It is suggested that the femtosecond laser pulse can create higher temperature and pressure conditions at a localized area in the liquid than the nanosecond laser pulse and the cooling is also faster in the femtosecond laser ablation process, which determined the difference between the products synthesized with femtosecond and nanosecond-pulsed laser ablation.