Preparation and characterization of In2O3 nanorods

In2O3 nanorods were prepared by sol–gel technique with polyethylene octyl phenyl ther (OP-10) controlling their morphology and were characterized by TEM, TG-DSC and XRD. The results indicated that In2O3 nanorods had the length of about 120 nm and the diameter of about 20 nm. The precursor was In2O(OH)4 dry gelatin which was formed by partly dehydrating of In(OH)3 molecules. The influencing factors and growth mechanism were discussed. The geometry arrangement parameter P of OP-10 was in 1/3–1/2 through calculating, which conformed the shape of claviform micelle.