Synthesis of colloidal solution of β-LiGaO2 nanocrystals capped with organic surfactant

Abstract

We studied a means of synthesizing colloidal nanocrystals (NCs) of β-LiGaO2, a wide-band gap semiconductor oxide, by reacting lithium hydroxide (LiOH) with gallium tri-iso-propoxide [Ga(OiPr)3] in benzylamine. This reaction yielded near-stoichiometric β-LiGaO2 NCs, 45 nm in diameter and capped with n-octylamine, which were highly dispersible in an organic solvent. We proposed that the LiOH and Ga(OiPr) 3 reacted via electrophilic attack of Li+ on the bridging oxygen of Ga(OiPr)3 and/or nucleophilic attack of OH- on the α-carbon of Ga(OiPr)3. This reaction formed LiOGa bonds and contributed to the nearstoichiometry of the resultant β-LiGaO2 NCs. © 2014 The Ceramic Society of Japan.