Single-Crystalline Indium Hydroxide and Indium Oxide Microcubes: Synthesis and Characterization

Uniform single-crystalline indium hydroxide microcubes can be successfully synthesized in large quantities via a convenient hydrothermal route using hydrated indium nitrate and sodium borohydride as reagents under mild conditions. The morphology and size of indium hydroxide microcubes can be controlled by varying the synthetic parameters such as hydrothermal time, reaction temperature, and surfactant. Single-crystalline indium oxide microcubes also can be successfully prepared by a thermal decomposition method using indium hydroxide microcubes as the precursor. The phase structures, morphologies, and optical properties of the final products were investigated in detail by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetric analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. These uniform single-crystalline microcubes may be useful in microelectronic and optoelectronic devices.