Synthesis, Structure, Photoluminescence, and Raman Spectrum of Indium Oxide Nanowires

Production of indium oxide $(In_2O_3)$ whiskers at a very low temperature of 650°C was reported. The synthetic route was comprised of a thermal heating process of a mixture of In and Mg powders. We have investigated the structural properties of the as-synthesized nanowires by using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The product consisted of one-dimensional nanowires, with a crystalline cubic structure of $In_2O_3$. The photoluminescence measurement with the Gaussian fitting exhibited visible light emission bands centered at 2.1 eV and 2.8 eV. The peaks of the Raman spectrum were indexed to the modes being associated with cubic $In_2O_3$.