Structure analysis and optical study of In-O-N nanospears

Novel spear-like In-O-N nanostructures have been synthesized on a Si substrate via a simple thermal evaporation process by ammoniating the In-containing reactants at 1100 deg. C. All the In-O-N nanostructures contain a long, thin pole with a diameter ranging from 20 to 100 nm and a huge spear-like tip at the end. The structure and morphology, as well as the crystallinity and composition of the In-O-N nanospears, were characterized by a scanning electron microscope (SEM), a transmission electron microscope (TEM) and the attached energy dispersive system (EDS). TEM analysis confirmed the cubic structure of In-O-N nanospears. Room-temperature cathodoluminescence (CL) measurement indicated that the In-O-N nanospears have a broad and strong light emission centred at ∼454 nm with an unobvious shoulder in the range of 500-600 nm