ZnO nanostructures produced by laser ablation in water: Optical and structural properties

► ZnO nanostructures have been synthesized by pulsed laser ablation. ► Structural and optical properties have been investigated by XPS, PL, TEM, REELS and XRD. ► Diffraction patterns and interplanar spacing agree with the ZnO wurtzite structure. ► Optical band gap has been found dependent on the nanoparticles size. ► A large number of Oxygen vacancies has been found in accordance with the measured sample densities.