Structural properties of metal oxide nanocomposites: Effect of preparation method

In2O3 + CeO2 and In2O3 + ZnO nanocomposites are prepared by the mixing of commercial nanopowders of respective oxides or the impregnation of indium oxide nanoparticles with cerium or zinc salts and the subsequent transformation of the salts into respective oxides. According to X-ray diffraction analysis, regardless of the preparation method, only two phases-indium oxide and cerium or zinc oxide-are present in the samples. The sizes and structure of the nanoparticles in the nanocomposites are determined by transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. It is found that the use of the impregnation method leads to the formation of small clusters of cerium or zinc oxides on the surface of the indium oxide nanoparticles. The size of the cerium and zinc oxide nanoparticles in the impregnated samples is 3-15 and 5-25 nm, respectively. The size of nanoparticles of these oxides in the impregnated samples slightly decreases with an increase in their content in the composite.