Zn wires have been electrically exploded in methanol or distilled water using the pulsed power technologies. The nanopowders produced by the explosions have been observed by using SEM and TEM, and analyzed its phase by using EDS and XRD. The nanopowders produced in distilled water showed ZnO phase only. On the other hands, the nanopowder produced in methanol showed mixed phases with Zn and ZnO. The HR-TEM images of the nanopowders produced in methanol showed that the some particles have been coated with carbon like materials. It is considered that the carbon coatings could be depended on the positions of the particles during the plasma state formed by explosion.

Nickel wires of 0.8 mm in diameter and 80 mm in length were electrically exploded in liquid media such as water, ethyl alcohol. The distribution of particle sizes was broad from a few micrometers to tens of nanometer. It was identified that the particles could be classified according to its sizes by using centrifugal separator. The powder prepared in distilled water showed mainly pure metallic Ni phase although a little oxide phase was observed. The powders prepared in ethyl alcohol showed complicated unknown phases, which is attributed to the compound of carbon in the organic liquid. This unknown phase was turned to pure metallic Ni phase after heat treatment.