Synthesis of self-assembled mesoporous 3D In(2)O(3) hierarchical micro flowers composed of nanosheets and their electrochemical properties

This report describes the methodology for the fabrication of mesoporous In(2)O(3) microflowers by hydrothermal and calcination procedures in which In(OH)(3)/In(2)S(3) acts as an intermediate. Both In(2)O(3) and its precursor were analyzed with scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectrophotometry, transmission electron microscopy and powder X-ray diffraction. BET surface area, pore size and pore volume analyses were also carried out. Electron microscopy images clearly evidence the self-assembly of 2D nanosheets into the micro flower structure. The mechanism of self-assembly and calcination is reported. Electrochemical properties of the synthesized In(2)O(3) micro flowers were studied.