Structure and optical properties of vapor grown In2O3: Ga nano-/microcrystals

Octahedral shaped single crystalline undoped and Ga-doped indium oxide nano-and microcrystals were fabricated using vapor-solid growth process. Effects of Ga doping on the crystallinity, defect structure, and optical properties of the nano-/microstructures have been studied using scanning electron microscopy, microRaman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and cathodoluminescence spectroscopy. It has been observed that incorporation of Ga does not affect the morphology of In2O3 structures due to its smaller ionic radius, and similar oxidation state as that of In. However, incorporation of Ga in high concentration (~3.31 atom %) causes lattice compression, reduces optical band gap and defect induced CL emissions of In2O3 nano-/microcrystals. The single crystalline Ga-doped, In2O3 nano-/microcrystals with low defect contents are promising for optoelectronic applications.