Preparation of size-controlled In2O3 nanoparticles

Highly crystalline and monodisperse In2O3 nanoparticles were successfully prepared by thermal decomposition of In(dipy)(3)Cl-3 center dot 2H(2)O in oleylamine and oleic acid under inert atmosphere. The size of In2O3 nanoparticles could be readily tuned from 10-15 nm to 40-50 nm, depending on the molar ratio of precursor to combined solvent in the reaction system. As-synthesized In2O3 nanoparticles have a center-body cubic structure as characterized by powder X-ray diffraction and selected-area electron diffraction. Transmission electron microscopy images showed that In2O3 nanoparticles have a narrow size distribution. A relatively strongly PL peak centered at 378 nm could be clearly seen when 10-15 nm In2O3 nanoparticles redispersed in cyclohexane were excited at 275 nm at room temperature. Copyright (C) 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.