Enhanced structural properties of In ₂ O ₃ nanoparticles at lower calcination temperature synthesised by co‐precipitation method

Abstract

Indium oxide nanoparticles (In 2 O 3 NPs) were formed by calcining the optimised as‐prepared indium hydroxide (In(OH) 3 ) NPs. The as‐prepared In(OH) 3 NPs were synthesised at optimal pH 10 through co‐precipitation method at various calcination temperatures (200, 300, 400, 500, 600°C) for 2 h. Characterisation of the samples was performed by thermogravimetric (TGA and differential thermal, DTA) analysis, high‐resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM), X‐ray diffractometer (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. The complete conversion to In 2 O 3 NPs was reached at 300°C. Besides, the crystallite size of In 2 O 3 NPs calculated by William‐Hall equation had the same trend with the values obtained from Scherrer equation. The HRTEM images also showed that the size of In 2 O 3 NPs was within the range of 15–28 nm. Clearly, their work confirmed that the smallest In 2 O 3 NPs (15 nm) with homogenous particle distribution were formed at a lower calcination temperature of 300°C.