Optical properties of surface-modified Bi2O3 nanoparticles Original Research Article

Stearic acid coated Bi2O3 nanoparticles in the size range of 5–13 nm were synthesized by the microemulsion method. HRTEM showed that the morphology of Bi2O3 nanoparticles was ellipsoidal. The absorption edge of Bi2O3 nanoparticles showed a blue shift of ∼0.45 eV, comparing with that of the bulk Bi2O3. At room temperature, Bi2O3 nanoparticles also showed a strong luminescence at 397 and 420 nm, depending on the excitation wavelength.