Synthesis of micro-sized Sb2O3 hierarchical structures by carbothermal reduction method

Micro-sized Sb2O3 hierarchical structures were prepared by carbothermal reduction method, using antimony doped tin oxide (ATO) nanoparticles and graphite powder as source materials. The products were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). Furthermore, the possible growth mechanism of the as-synthesized samples was discussed. The room-temperature photoluminescence (PL) measurement exhibited one relatively strong violet emission peak at about 420 nm under the 325 nm excitation wavelength and another violet emission peak, about three times stronger in intensity than the former, at about 435 nm under the 365 nm excitation wavelength. In addition, the optimal excitation wavelength of 363 nm was obtained and the luminescence causes were speculated.