Indium-zinc-oxide nanobelts with superlattice structure

Indium-zinc-oxide (IZO) nanobelts have been grown by a thermal evaporation-deposition method with ZnO and In2O3 powders as precursors. The nanobelts have a superlattice structure that is explained by the formation of In-O and In/Zn-O layers, which appears to favor the formation of nanorings. X-ray analytical methods indicate that the approximate composition of the compound is Zn4In2O7. Cathodoluminescence of the nanobelts in scanning electron microscope shows a dominant emission at 2.37 eV, which is suggested to be a characteristic band of the IZO structure. (C) 2009 American Institute of Physics. [DOI: 10.1063/1.3176974]