Effect of Reaction Concentration on the Structural and Optical Properties of Antimony Oxide (Sb2O3) Nanoparticles

Abstract

Antimony oxide (Sb2O3) nanoparticles are synthesized by oxalate method in various reaction concentration ratios namely 1:3, 1:5, 1:7 and 1:9. The structural characterization is performed by X-ray diffraction method which revealed a cubic phase of Sb2O3 nanoparticles (JCPDS File No. 43- 1071). As the reaction concentration ratio increases, average grain size increases and dislocation density decreases. Optical properties of the synthesized Sb2O3 nanoparticles are characterized by UV-Visible spectroscopyin which the spectra exhibits a well defined peak at ~230 nm. Photoluminescence emission studies show blue emission bands around 361 nm and 383 nm underan excitation wavelength of 280 nm.