In2O3 and tin-doped In2O3 nanocrystals prepared by glass crystallization

Abstract Glasses in the system Na 2 O/B 2 O 3 /Al 2 O 3 /In 2 O 3 /(SnO 2 ) were melted and subsequently tempered in the range from 540 to 700 °C. This led to the crystallization of In 2 O 3 , besides also NaBO 2 and Na 2 Al 2 B 2 O 7 were formed. The crystallite sizes were in the range from 12 to 34 nm, depending on the temperature of thermal treatment, as calculated from XRD-line broadening. Crystal sizes determined by TEM were in the same range. Particle size histograms show a narrow crystal size distribution. After crystallization, the glass matrices and the non indium-containing crystalline phases were dissolved in diluted acetic acid. Spectra of the obtained suspensions containing tin-doped In 2 O 3 nanocrystals exhibited a sharp UV-cut off, high transmission in the visible range and strongly decreasing transmission at wavelengths >1000 nm.