Molecular based, chimie douce approach to 0D and 1D indium oxide nanostructures. Evaluation of their sensing properties towards CO and H2

The synthesis of a new molecular In(III) precursor complex, the generation of nanoscaled In2O3 (bixybyte structure) in 0D and 1D morphology, and the sensoric behavior of the 0D and 1D In2O3 nanostructures towards reducing gas atmospheres is studied. The indium precursor complex can be converted to a ceramic green body under mild reaction temperatures (160 °C), followed by conversion into crystalline indiumoxide at higher temperatures (350 °C). Geometric confinement by endotemplating of the molecular In precursor in track-etched polycarbonate templates yields polycrystalline indium oxide nanotubes in high yields. Controlled conversion of the molecular precursor without geometric confinement gives nanoparticulate crystalline In2O3. Both morphologically different In2O3 nanomaterials are sensitive to reducing gas conditions, however they show distinct differences towards reducing H2 and CO gas atmospheres.