Optical investigations on indium oxide nano-particles prepared through precipitation method

• Published in: Materials characterization 2009-12, Vol.60 (12), p.1578-1582
• Main Authors: Seetha, M., Bharathi, S., Dhayal Raj, A., Mangalaraj, D., Nataraj, D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: BCC LATTICES; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; ELECTRON SPIN RESONANCE; ETHANOL; Exact sciences and technology; INDIUM HYDROXIDES; Indium oxide nano-cube like aggregates; INDIUM OXIDES; MATERIALS SCIENCE; MORPHOLOGY; NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY; NANOSTRUCTURES; PARTICLES; Phase diagrams and microstructures developed by solidification and solid-solid phase transformations; PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS; PHOTOLUMINESCENCE; Physics; PRECIPITATION; SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY; SODIUM HYDROXIDES; Solidification; THERMAL GRAVIMETRIC ANALYSIS; TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY; VACANCIES; Vacancy induced emission; X-RAY DIFFRACTION
• ISSN: 1044-5803; 1873-4189
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matchar.2009.09.009

Visible light emitting indium oxide nanoparticles were synthesized by precipitation method. Sodium hydroxide dissolved in ethanol was used as a precipitating agent to obtain indium hydroxide precipitates. Precipitates, thus formed were calcined at 600 °C for 1 h to obtain indium oxide nanoparticles. The structure of the particles as determined from the X-Ray diffraction pattern was found to be body centered cubic. The phase transformation of the prepared nanoparticles was analyzed using thermogravimetry. Surface morphology of the prepared nanoparticles was analyzed using high resolution-scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The results of the analysis show cube-like aggregates of size around 50 nm. It was found that the nanoparticles have a strong emission at 427 nm and a weak emission at 530 nm. These emissions were due to the presence of singly ionized oxygen vacancies and the nature of the defect was confirmed through Electron paramagnetic resonance analysis.