In2O3 cubes: synthesis, characterization and photocatalytic properties

Abstract

3D cubic microporous In₂O₃ has been successfully obtained by calcining the as-synthesized cube In(OH)₃–InOOH precursor at 300 °C for 2 hours. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were employed to clarify the structures and morphologies of both the cubic In(OH)₃–InOOH precursor and cubic In₂O₃. The formation mechanisms of the In(OH)₃–InOOH precursor and cubic In₂O₃ were investigated. As an important semiconductor photocatalytic material, its photocatalytic properties have been tested. Under the irradiation of UV light, the cubic microporous In₂O₃ exhibits excellent photocatalytic properties to degrade eosin B (EB), which presents ∼95% degradation of EB after 3 hours and the degradation rates is 10.5 times that of commercial In₂O₃ powder. The high separation efficiency of electron–hole pairs results in high photocatalytic activity. Furthermore, the photoluminescent properties of the cubic microporous In₂O₃ have been investigated as well.