Flower-like In2O3 Nanostructures Derived from Novel Precursor: Synthesis, Characterization, and Formation Mechanism

Three-dimensional flower-like In2O3 nanostructures with a uniform diameter of ca. 0.7-1.2 mu m were fabricated via the glycerol-mediated solvothermal reaction followed by calcination. The flower-like indium precursor and In2O3 nanostructures were investigated in detail, and the as-formed indium precursor could be transformed to cubic In2O3 maintaining its original flower-like morphology after calcination. The formation mechanism, which included the formation of In(OH)(3) nanoparticles and their aggregation as well as the reaction between In(OH)(3) and glycerol, was proposed. In addition, the room-temperature photoluminescence (PL) spectrum of the In2O3 nanostructure showed peculiar visible emissions.