ZnMoO₄ Micro- and Nanostructures Synthesized by Electrochemistry-Assisted Laser Ablation in Liquids and Their Optical Properties

Electrochemistry-assisted laser ablation in liquids (ECLAL) is a chemically “simple and clean” synthesis of nanoparticles. Using ECLAL, we have synthesized zinc molybdate nanoplates and nanorods with two different phases. These two nanostructures are characterized carefully by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman scattering spectroscopy, and UV–vis spectrophotometry. On the basis of the cathodoluminescence measurements, we observe that the nanoplates emit no light, while the nanorods give out green light before annealing. The optical properties of both get much better after annealing, which indicates their potential applications in photoelectric nanodevices. The basic physics and chemistry involved in the ECLAL fabrication and the luminescence mechanism for products before and after annealing are discussed.