Matrix-isolation infrared spectroscopic studies on ablated products generated from laser ablation of Ta2O5 and Ta in ambient O2/Ar gas Original Research Article

Using matrix-isolation infrared spectroscopy, 532 nm pulsed laser ablation of Ta2O5 and Ta targets in O2/Ar gas ambient has been investigated. The major ablated products of the tantalum-containing oxides were found to be the neutrals TaO, TaO2, (O2)TaO2, and the anions TaO2−, TaO3−, as well as cations TaO+, TaO2+ in minority. The observed infrared absorptions of these tantalum-containing oxides were reproduced by DFT calculations of vibrational fundamentals. The formation reaction channels of these products during the laser ablation process have been discussed.