Pulsed ruby laser-induced aqueous oxidation of tantalum: X-ray diffraction and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopic study

Tantalum oxide phases have been synthesized by pulsed ruby laser-induced reactive quenching at a tantalum and water interface (Ta:H2O). The structural and chemical states of the oxides have been characterized by x-ray diffraction and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, whereas the surface morphology of these laser-treated samples was studied using scanning electron microscopy. The results are significantly different from those resulting from transformations induced when tantalum is laser-treated in air (Ta:air) at comparable energy density.