Micro- and nanostructures of Sb2O3 grown by evaporation-deposition: Self assembly phenomena, fractal and dendritic growth

Sb2O3 micro- and nanostructures of the face centered cubic phase, have been grown by a catalyst free evaporation deposition method with powder of metallic Sb as precursor. Nanopyramids, octahedra and nanorods are the building blocks of complex structures. The aggregation process of single crystallites has been investigated and the formation of microspheres, triangular fractal-like arrangements and dendrite complexes was found to depend on the nature and temperature of the substrate. Luminescence properties and Raman spectra of the structures have been investigated. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.