In₂O₃ nanorod bundles derived from a novel precursor and In₂O₃ nanoaggregates: Controllable synthesis, characterization, and property studies

An indium-ethylene glycol-ethylenediamine (In-EG-EDA) complex precursor with a nanorod bundle structure was controllably synthesized in EG solvent via an EDA-assisted solvothermal process at 180 °C. The morphologies and phase structures of the samples were found to depend strongly on the pH values and alkaline reagents. This complex precursor was subsequently calcined at 640 °C in air, resulting in the formation of cubic phase In₂O ₃ nanorod bundles without changing its one-dimensional morphology. In addition, In₂O₃ nanoaggregates with a diameter of 20 nm can be directly obtained using ammonia as alkaline reagent. A possible mechanism was proposed to explain the formation of In-EG-EDA nanorod bundles and In ₂O₃ nanoaggregates. Both the In₂O₃ nanorod bundles and the nanoaggregates showed wide emission peaks from the ultraviolet to visible region in photoluminescence spectra.