Synthesis of In2O3 nanowires enhanced by anodic alumina membrane

Large-scale single crystalline In2O3 nanowires were successfully synthesized on anodic alumina membranes by a simple thermal evaporation method at 570°C. X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy studies revealed the formation of single crystalline In2O3 nanowires with diameters of 50-100 nm and lengths of up to a few hundreds of micrometers. Cathodeluminescence study revealed existence of oxygen vacancies evidenced by a strong and broad emission at 470 nm with a shoulder at 400 nm. The growth mechanism of the nanostructures is also discussed.