Synthesis of gallium oxide nanostructures and their structural properties

Various β-Ga₂O₃ nanostructures were synthesized by using a thermal evaporation process with Ga or Ga₂O₃ powders as the source materials. Through a systematic control of the processing temperature and the reaction time we obtained various types of nanostructures, such as nanowires, nanoribbons, and nanosheets, of β-Ga₂O ₃. The formation of the nanostructures into different shapes could be explained by using the vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) and the vapor-solid (VS) mechanisms. X-ray diffraction analysis and transmission electron microscopy analysis indicated that the β-Ga₂O₃ nanostructures were single crystals with a monoclinic crystal structure.