Annealing induced surface restructuring in hydrothermally synthesized gallium oxide nano-cuboids

Gallium Oxide (Ga2O3) nanostructures are synthesized using a hydrothermal approach and the effect of different gallium precursors on the morphology of gallium nanostructures is studied. The rice-like nanostructures are obtained in gallium chloride and gallium nitrate precursors, whereas nano-cuboids are formed in the case of gallium acetylacetonate. The size of the edge defined nano-cuboid is in the range of 0.6 mu m x 0.3 mu m x 0.2 mu m. The as-synthesized nano-cuboids are in the metastable phase alpha and converts to a stable beta phase after annealed at a higher temperature (similar to 850 degrees C). Post synthesis thermal annealing also results in the creation of nanopores on the surface of these nano-cuboids. Pores size increases with an increase in annealing temperature till 950 degrees C, further increase in annealing temperature reduces the size of pores and a smoother surface appeared. The annealing induced surface restructuring offers significant alteration on nano-cuboid properties that could be beneficial for surface-related applications.

Automated summary

Gallium Oxide (Ga2O3) nanostructures were synthesized using a hydrothermal approach, and the impact of different gallium precursors on the morphology of gallium nanostructures was studied. Different shapes of nanostructures were obtained depending on the precursor used, and post-synthesis thermal annealing at high temperatures led to significant alterations in the properties of the nanostructures.