Synthesis of single crystalline in₂O₃ nanowires and their photoluminescence characteristics

Single crystalline Ir₂O₃ nanowires have been synthesized by thermal evaporation of ball-milled In₂O₃ powders without any catalysis. The diameter and length range of the synthesized In₂O₃ nanowires are about 25 nm and 20-30μm, respectively. Their X-ray diffraction pattern is indexed to bcc structure with a lattice constant of a = 1.0126nm. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy image shows that the inner part of the In₂O₃ nanowires is free of dislocations, and that any amorphous layers are not formed on the surface of the nanowires. In their PL spectrum, two peaks are observed in the ultraviolet region centered at 380 nm and in the visible region centered at 550 nm.