Preparation of monodispersed tin-doped indium oxide nanopowders under moderate conditions

Monodispersed tin-doped indium oxide (ITO) powder with 70±10 nm particle size was prepared by a hydrothermal process at only 240 °C for 12 h, and post-calcination process at 500 °C, using NaOH as raw material. Characterization via X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy, laser particle sizer and Brunauer-Emmert-Teller analysis confirmed that the as-prepared powder was relatively monodispersed. Compared to the hydrothermal process with ammonia as raw material, the present process has an advantage that ITO powders can be synthesized at a lower temperature and pressure, and hence is safer in commercialization.