Direct synthesis of beta gallium oxide nanowires, nanobelts, nanosheets and nanograsses by microwave plasma

In this study, beta-gallium oxide beta-Ga2O3) nanowires, nanobelts, nanosheets, and nanograsses were synthesized through microwave plasma of liquid phase gallium containing H2O in Ar atmosphere using silicon as the substrate. The nanowires with diameters of about 20-30 nm were several tens of microns long and the nanobelts with thickness of about 20-30 nm were tens to hundreds of microns long. The morphology and structure of products were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). These results showed that multiple nucleation and growth of beta-Ga2O3 nanostructures could easily occur directly out of liquid gallium exposed to appropriate H2O and Ar in the gas phase. The growth process of beta-Ga2O3 nanostructures may be dominated by VS (vapor-solid) mechanism. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All fights reserved.