Journal of Materials Science, Vol.42, No.22, 9262-9266, 2007
Synthesis and characterization of morphologically different high purity gallium oxide nanopowders
High purity gallium oxide nanopowders have been synthesized by using a simple precipitation technique with calcination at elevated temperature. From the X-ray pattern, the phase purity of the synthesized powders was confirmed as beta-Ga2O3. Elemental quantification (stoichiometry) of Ga2O3 was also examined from the X-ray energy dispersive analysis (EDAX). Based on the recorded Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrum of Ga2O3, the IR bands due to Ga-O bond and crystal lattice vibrations have been identified in the wavenumber range 400-4,000 cm(-1). From the measured SEM images, it is obvious to notice that the pH value has been playing a dominant role in obtaining morphologically different gallium oxide nanopowders. Thermogravimetric analysis reveals 8.3% of weight loss when the sample was heated to the temperature of 1,100 degrees C from the room temperature, which also shows a crystalline phase transformation. It is very interesting to report that a broad blue emission at 455 nm has been measured from the synthesized gallium oxide nanopowders.