In situ synthesis and phase transformation of In2O3/Sb core-shell nanostructures

A simple low-temperature thermal evaporation method was utilized for a large-scale synthesis of In2O3/Sb core-shell cable-like nanostructures by co-evaporating In and Sb. An X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and electron energy loss spectroscopy study revealed the formation of In2O3 nanowires at 540 °C with unique structures of rectangular turning and a co-axis structure with an amorphous Sb shell layer surrounding the In2O3 wires. The amorphous Sb layer was found to undergo a crystallization phase transition under a 200 keV focused electron beam irradiation. An epitaxial relationship was found to exist between the crystallized Sb and In2O3.