Synthesis and Characterisation of Polygonal Indium Tin Oxide Nanocrystals

Polygon ITO (Sn-doped In2O3) nanocrystals were synthesised via electrospinning, and their morphology, structural properties, and chemical composition were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). To determine the optimum conditions for the fabrication of polygon ITO nanocrystals, calcination temperature after the electrospinning process was controlled at 500 degrees C, 600 degrees C, 700 degrees C, and 800 degrees C, and the amount of PVP polymer was controlled at 4 wt%, 7 wt%, and 10 wt%. For comparison purposes, single In2O3 nanocrystals were also synthesised via electrospinning and calcination. The results show that ITO nanocrystals fabricated at a calcination temperature of 800 degrees C and with 10 wt% of PVP polymer exhibit clear polygon structure with single-crystallinity, which may be explained in terms of the effect of Sn doping in the In2O3 matrix and the oriented aggregation and Oswald ripening growth during the fusion process of ITO nanocrystals.