Simple synthesis of GaN nanoparticles from gallium nitrate and ammonia aqueous solution under a flow of ammonia gas

A simple method for the synthesis of nanosized gallium nitride (GaN) particles from a mixture of gallium nitrate (Ga(NO3)3) and aqueous ammonia solutions under a flow of ammonia gas in a temperature range of 700–900 °C is described. Nanosized GaN particles with an average diameter of approximately 20–50 nm were obtained. The resulting GaN nanoparticles showed an intense photoluminescence at 364 nm under UV excitation at 254 nm. The effects of the preparation conditions, such as temperature, length of heating time and ammonia concentration on the crystallinity and intensity of the photoluminescence of the particles were also investigated.