Study of the optical and gas sensing properties of In2O3 nanoparticles synthesized by rapid sonochemical method

Indium oxide (In2O3) nanoparticles were synthesized via a facile rapid sonochemical method. Detailed spectroscopic techniques were used to investigate optical, structural and chemical properties of the synthesized In2O3 nanoparticles. The structural analysis shows that In2O3 nanoparticles have cubic structure and are polycrystalline in nature. The morphology of the In2O3 nanoparticles examined by field emission scanning electron microscopy revealed spherical and uniformly distributed particles. Bruno emit Teller surface analyzer demonstrated that the surface areas of In2O3 nanoparticles is 45 m2/g and also confirmed that the synthesized nanoparticles are mesoporous. Raman spectra also revealed that the synthesized nanoparticles have cubic structure. In–O band stretching of the synthesized In2O3 nanoparticles was confirmed using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. Photoluminescence spectra of the In2O3 nanoparticles showed broad and intense UV emission peak at 358 nm. Moreover, the synthesized In2O3 nanoparticles showed good sensitivity and fast response toward the hydrogen gas at lower temperature.