Preparation of size‐controlled In2O3 nanoparticles

Highly crystalline and monodisperse In₂O₃ nanoparticles were successfully prepared by thermal decomposition of In(dipy)₃Cl₃·2H₂O 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 © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.