Effect of Reaction Concentration on the Structural and Optical Properties of Antimony Oxide (Sb2O3) Nanoparticles

Antimony oxide (Sb2O3) nanoparticles are synthesized by oxalate method in various reaction concentration ratios namely 1:3, 1:5, 1:7 and 1:9. The structural characterization is performed by X-ray diffraction method which revealed a cubic phase of Sb2O3 nanoparticles (JCPDS File No. 43- 1071). As the reaction concentration ratio increases, average grain size increases and dislocation density decreases. Optical properties of the synthesized Sb2O3 nanoparticles are characterized by UV-Visible spectroscopyin which the spectra exhibits a well defined peak at ~230 nm. Photoluminescence emission studies show blue emission bands around 361 nm and 383 nm underan excitation wavelength of 280 nm