Synthesis and characterization of In(OH)3 and In2O3 nanomaterials by the guide of polymer PEG

Nanocrystalline indium hydroxides with the different shape and size were synthesized by using polymer PEG as the water-soluble growth medium. The size of indium hydroxides decreased with the increase of PEG concentration, and the morphologies of particles changed from inhomogeneity nanosheets to uniform nanosheets. Nanocrystalline indium oxide nanosheets were obtained upon calcination at the temperature of 600°C over 3.5 h. The morphology, size and phase structure of indium oxide nanosheets were characterized by scan electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and FT-IR spectra. The results showed that the diameters of the as-prepared indium oxide nanosheets were about 30-50 nm length and the as-prepared samples with cube structure were uniform in size, well dispersed and of high purity.