Synthesis and characterization of morphologically different high purity gallium oxide nanopowders

High purity gallium oxide nanopowders have been synthesized by using a simple precipitation technique with calcination at elevated temperature. From the X-ray pattern, the phase purity of the synthesized powders was confirmed as b-Ga2O3. Elemental quantification (stoichiometry) of Ga2O3 was also examined from the X-ray energy dispersive analysis (EDAX). Based on the recorded Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrum of Ga2O3, the IR bands due to Ga–O bond and crystal lattice vibrations have been identified in the wavenumber range 400– 4,000 cm–1. From the measured SEM images, it is obvious to notice that the pH value has been playing a dominant role in obtaining morphologically different gallium oxide nanopowders. Thermogravimetric analysis reveals 8.3% of weight loss when the sample was heated to the temperature of 1,100 C from the room temperature, which also shows a crystalline phase transformation. It is very interesting to report that a broad blue emission at 455 nm has been measured from the synthesized gallium oxide nanopowders.