Hydrothermal synthesis of indium tin oxide nanoparticles without chlorine contamination

Abstract

Indium tin oxide (In 2 Sn 1-x O 5-y) nanoparticles were synthesized by hydrothermal method from stable indium tin acetylacetone complexes and postannealing at 600 °C. The absence of chlorine ions shortened the synthesis process, decreased the particle agglomeration and improved the particle purity. The introduced complexing ligand acetylacetone decreased the obtained nanoparticle size. The improved powder properties accelerated the sintering of the In 2 Sn 1-x O 5-y nanoparticles and reached a relative density of 96.4% when pressureless sintered at 1400 °C.