The translational, rotational, and phonon dynamics of water in ZrO2 /water nanofluid

•The water dynamics in zirconium oxide nanofluid were investigated by QENS, 17O NMR relaxation, and IXS.•The translational and rotational motions of water molecules become retarded with increasing the concentration of ZrO2.•The high-frequency sound velocity of the nanofluid is slightly larger than that of pure water.•There is an attractive interaction between water molecules and the surface of the nanoparticles.