Synthesis, characterization, and photoluminescence properties of In2O3 nanocrystals encapsulated by carbon vesicles and neat In2O3 nanocrystals generated by the RAPET technique

We report the synthesis of micron-sized vesicles of carbon encapsulating In2O3 nanocrystals, as well as neat In2O3 nanocrystals. The thermal decomposition of In(acetate)3 was carried out at 800 degrees C in air. This reaction was carried out under the autogenic pressure of indium acetate. The synthesized products were systematically characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Carbon microvesicles, with an average diameter of 5 pm, encapsulated several nanometric-sized In2O3 nanocrystals, as evidenced by high resolution transmission electron microscopy. The UV/Vis absorption of In2O3 nanocrystals was studied to estimate the bandgap energies. ((C) Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008).